Duleep Trophy 2025 Final: Central Zone Crowned Champions Against South Zone

Duleep Trophy 2025, India’s oldest inter-zonal first-class tournament, produced a final to remember. Played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru from September 11 to 15, the clash between Central Zone and South Zone had everything. Central Zone, under Rajat Patidar’s calm leadership, sealed a six-wicket win on the last day to lift their seventh title and their first since the 2014–15 season.

The victory was built on Yash Rathod’s marathon 194 in the first innings and Saransh Jain’s consistent spin bowling across the match. But it wasn’t all one-way traffic. South Zone, staring at defeat, fought hard through Ankit Sharma’s brave 99 and teenager Andre Siddarth’s unbeaten 84. The final was a fitting advertisement for the return of the zonal format.

Match Score Summary: Duleep Trophy 2025

Result: Central Zone won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Yash Rathod (194 & 13*)
Player of the Series: Saransh Jain (16 wickets in the tournament)

How the Match Unfolded

Central Zone won the toss and made the brave choice to bowl first. The gamble paid off immediately as South Zone’s top order crumbled against spin. Off-spinner Saransh Jain ran through the line-up with figures of 5/49, while Kumar Kartikeya backed him with 4/53. Only Siddarth, with a fighting 63, showed some resistance. South were dismissed for just 149 on the opening day.

If Day 1 belonged to the spinners, Day 2 was all about Central’s batting depth. Young Yash Rathod, who had managed only 2 runs in the semi-final, batted with rare patience and class. He compiled a career-best 194, staying at the crease for nearly eight hours. Captain Rajat Patidar added 101, and opener Danish Malewar scored 120. Their combined effort powered Central to a mammoth 511, a lead of 362 runs that seemed match-winning at the halfway mark.

But finals rarely go exactly to plan. South Zone, instead of folding, showed remarkable fight in their second innings. By Day 4, they were staring at an innings defeat at 181/6. Then came the partnership that changed the mood of the match. Left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma, batting at number eight, joined hands with 19-year-old Siddarth. The duo put on 192 runs for the seventh wicket, Sharma agonisingly falling for 99 while Siddarth remained unbeaten on 84. Their stand lifted South to 426, forcing Central to bat again and setting a target of 65 runs.

The chase, which looked simple on paper, turned into a tense battle on the final morning. Central lost Malewar, Shubham Sharma, and Saransh Jain quickly, slipping to 24/3. Memories of past heartbreaks must have crossed fans’ minds. But Rathod, once again calm under pressure, and wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar steadied nerves. They guided Central to 66/4 in 20.3 overs, sparking celebrations that ended an 11-year wait.

Standout Performances

Turning Points

Three moments stood out in this memorable final. Rathod’s 194, coming after a poor semi-final, gave Central a cushion that carried them through. Jain’s first-innings five-for ensured South never got a foothold early. And finally, the Ankit Sharma–Siddarth partnership on Day 4 reminded everyone that South would not go down without a fight.

Why This Final Matters

For Central Zone, this was more than just a trophy. It was redemption after years of underachievement, and a sign of their depth in batting and spin bowling. Rajat Patidar, who had already proved himself as captain by taking RCB to an IPL final and winning big games for them, showed his leadership once again, this time at the domestic level Rathod’s innings has put him firmly on the radar as a future Test hopeful.

For South Zone, though they lost, the match highlighted character. Sharma’s 99 at age 34 and Siddarth’s maturity at 19 showed the range of talent in Indian domestic cricket.

Most importantly, the return of the zonal format proved successful. Fans got to see competitive, high-quality cricket that mixed tradition with fresh talent.