Duleep Trophy 2025: Patidar retains Central Zone captaincy, Rinku named vice-captain
Synopsis
Defending champions Central Zone have named a formidable squad for the Duleep Trophy starting 23 August in Bengaluru, retaining Rajat Patidar as captain and handing Rinku Singh the vice-captaincy. With last year's leading run-getter at the helm, the tournament's top wicket-taker in the XI, and a Player-of-the-Match finalist in the batting order, Central Zone are built to go back-to-back.
Key Takeaways
Rajat Patidar retained as captain of Central Zone for the Duleep Trophy starting 23 August 2025 in Bengaluru .
Rinku Singh appointed vice-captain; Central Zone are defending champions, having won their seventh title by beating South Zone by six wickets .
Saransh Jain — last edition's leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps — included despite being in India's Test squad for the Sri Lanka series.
Yash Rathod , who scored 194 in last year's final, is part of the batting line-up.
A six-member stand-by list named; Nikhil Doru appointed head coach.
Rajat Patidar has been retained as captain of the Central Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which begins on 23 August at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Left-handed batter Rinku Singh has been appointed vice-captain as the defending champions look to secure back-to-back titles.
Defending Champions Eye Eighth Title
Central Zone arrive at this edition as the side to beat, having clinched their seventh Duleep Trophy title in the previous final by defeating South Zone by six wickets in Bengaluru. The 15-member squad has been assembled with clear intent to retain the crown.
Patidar, who was the leading run-getter in last year's Duleep Trophy and a two-time IPL-winning captain, heads a batting line-up that includes Rinku Singh, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Ayush Pandey, Aryan Juyal, and Yash Rathod — who was named Player of the Match in last year's final after a majestic 194.
Bowling Unit: Pace and Spin in Balance
The bowling attack blends pace and spin. The seam contingent is led by Yash Thakur, Arshad Khan, Aryan Pandey, and Nachiket Bhute. The spin department is anchored by off-spinner Saransh Jain, who topped the wicket-taking charts in last year's edition with 16 scalps, alongside left-arm spin all-rounder Harsh Dubey and leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari.
Notably, Jain is also part of India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He has been retained in Central Zone's line-up with the expectation that he could be available for the side's semi-final clash — against the winner of Quarter-Final 1 — scheduled from 30 August to 2 September.
Support Staff and Stand-By Players
Former Rajasthan player Nikhil Doru has been named head coach, with Manish Jha serving as assistant coach. Zuffri Zakeria takes charge as team manager, while Chandrashekhar Rao has been appointed video analyst. The medical and conditioning team comprises physio Deshraj Chouhan, trainer Mayank Agarwal, and masseur Mohit Kumar.
A six-member stand-by list — featuring Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, and Kumar Kartikeya — has been named to cover potential injuries.
Full Squad
Central Zone squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute.
Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, Kumar Kartikeya.
With a settled leadership pair, a battle-hardened batting order, and the tournament's most prolific spinner from last season, Central Zone will be strong favourites when the Duleep Trophy gets underway on 23 August.
Point of View
Or whether India's Test commitments will force a last-minute reshuffle at the knockout stage. Rinku Singh's elevation to vice-captain is also worth watching: it signals a longer-term investment in his red-ball credentials at a time when his Test ambitions remain unsettled.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the captain of Central Zone for Duleep Trophy 2025?
Rajat Patidar has been retained as captain of Central Zone for the Duleep Trophy 2025. He was also the leading run-getter in last year's edition and is a two-time IPL-winning captain.
When and where does the Duleep Trophy 2025 start?
The Duleep Trophy 2025 begins on 23 August at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Central Zone's semi-final is scheduled from 30 August to 2 September.
Why has Saransh Jain been included despite India's Test squad selection?
Saransh Jain, who took 16 wickets in last year's Duleep Trophy — the most by any bowler — has been retained in the Central Zone squad with the expectation that he could be available for the semi-final, even though he is also part of India's squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
How many titles has Central Zone won in the Duleep Trophy?
Central Zone have won seven Duleep Trophy titles, including the most recent edition in which they defeated South Zone by six wickets in the final held in Bengaluru.
Who is in the Central Zone stand-by squad for Duleep Trophy 2025?
The six-member stand-by squad comprises Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, and Kumar Kartikeya, named to cover potential injuries to main squad members.
