Central Zone has announced its squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy, appointing Rajat Patidar as captain and Rinku Singh as vice-captain. As the defending champions, Central Zone will aim to retain their title under Patidar's leadership; Patidar played a pivotal role in RCB's consecutive victories in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. He will be supported by vice-captain Rinku Singh, who missed the previous season's Duleep Trophy.
The Central Zone squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy comprises 15 players, while six others Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, and Kumar Kartikeya have been selected as reserves. The tournament begins on August 23 and will feature a total of five matches. Teams from East Zone, North East Zone, North Zone, West Zone, and South Zone will participate alongside Central Zone, with the final scheduled for September 6.
What Happened In Last Year Duleep Trophy Under Rajat Patidar?
In the previous season's Duleep Trophy final, Central Zone defeated South Zone by six wickets; the match was played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru. Rajat Patidar captained the team last season as well, with a squad that included players such as Danish Malewar, Yash Rathod, Deepak Chahar, and Kuldeep Sen. Rajat Patidar set a benchmark in the 2025 Duleep Trophy by scoring 382 runs across five innings, emerging as the tournament's highest run-scorer.
Saransh Jain claimed 16 wickets in two matches, becoming the highest wicket-taker of the 2025 Duleep Trophy. In the 2026 Duleep Trophy, Central Zone and South Zone will play directly in the semi-finals. They will be joined by the winners of the East Zone versus North East Zone and North Zone versus West Zone matches, with the semi-finals commencing on August 30.
Central Zone Squad For Duleep Trophy 2026
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 Rathore (Wicketkeeper), Yash Thakur, and Nachiket Bhute
Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, and Kumar Kartikeya
Also Read: Tilak Varma has been appointed captain of the South Zone
Duleep Trophy 2026 Schedule
Venue - TEST
NEZ
Venue - TEST
EZ
Venue - TEST
Venue - TEST
Venue - TEST
Disclaimer
Possible11 is a sports news and analysis platform designed purely for entertainment and educational purposes. All match previews, player insights, and team analyses are based on publicly available information and expert opinions. We do not promote or support betting, gambling, or real-money gaming in any form. Users are encouraged to enjoy our content responsibly and use it for informational purposes only.
Give Your Feedback