After RCB success, Rajat Patidar leads Central Zone to Duleep Trophy title after 11 years

Central Zone overcame a few nervy moments to beat South Zone by six wickets and clinch the Duleep Trophy after 11 long years.

Chasing only 65 runs to win on Monday, Central Zone's top-order did not find it easy as South Zone bowlers managed to apply some pressure on a deteriorating fifth day pitch in Bengaluru.

Akshay Wadkar remained unbeaten on 19 runs off 52 balls, while Yash Rathod made easy work with 13 off 16 balls to eventually chase the target in 20 overs to clinch their seventh title in Duleep Trophy.


South Zone put up a fight in the second innings with 426 runs to delay Central's walk to victory.

Rajat Patidar's captaincy dominance continues

Rajat Patidar's successful stint as a captain continued as this is his second title of the year. Earlier in June, Patidar led the Royal Challengers of Bengaluru (RCB) to their first IPL trophy in 18 years.

"Every captain likes winning trophies. But our players showed a lot of character across the tournament and I am very happy about it," Patidar said at the presentation ceremony.

"Here the wicket was slightly dry so we decided to bat first. I am pleased for Danish and Yash, they batted well here all the tournament," he added.

Patidar had also led an unfancied Madhya Pradesh team to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year. He lost to an experienced Mumbai team, that was led by Ajinkya Rahane and featured stars like Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur.

The middle-order batter has also been named as the captain for the first match of the India A One Day squad that will take on Australia A. He will act as a vice-captain in the remaining two matches.