Rajat Patidar to lead Central Zone in 2026-27 Duleep Trophy

Rajat Patidar will captain Central Zone in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh named as vice-captain. The squad was announced on August 1, 2026, ahead of the tournament, which begins on August 23.

Central Zone enter the competition as defending champions, having beaten South Zone in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy final. Patidar was the highest run-getter in that edition, scoring 382 runs, including a century in the final.

The side will open their 2026-27 campaign in the semi-final, to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The semi-final is scheduled to begin on August 30.

Will Saransh Jain be available for the Duleep Trophy?

Saransh Jain has received a maiden Test call-up for India's forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, which raises a question over his availability for the early stages of the Duleep Trophy. India's Test tour to Sri Lanka concludes on August 27, and the Central Zone semi-final begins on August 30, leaving a very narrow window between the two commitments. Whether Jain will be released in time to feature for Central Zone will depend on the exact scheduling of his international duties.

Which players in the Central Zone squad have been in notable recent form?

Aman Mokhade is one of the more prominent inclusions on the back of a strong domestic season. The batter scored 760 runs in 11 innings in the Ranji Trophy last season, making him one of the standout performers in the competition.

Zeeshan Ansari, a 26-year-old wrist-spinner from Uttar Pradesh, is another name to watch. Ansari last played First-Class cricket six years ago but has been on the fringes of the national setup, having been picked as a net bowler for India's home Test against Afghanistan in June 2026. He was part of India A's unofficial Test tour to Sri Lanka last month, though he went wicket-less in the second unofficial Test.

Central Zone squad for 2026-27 Duleep Trophy:

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.