Rajat Patidar Leads Central Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026

The Central Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy has been announced, with Rajat Patidar retained as the captain. The defending champions will start their campaign on August 23 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Rajat Patidar, who led the team to their seventh title last year, will have a strong batting line-up to support him. The team includes Rinku Singh, who has been named vice-captain, as well as Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Ayush Pandey, Aryan Juyal, and Yash Rathod.

The bowling unit is also well-balanced, with seamers Yash Thakur, Arshad Khan, Aryan Pandey, and Nachiket Bhute leading the pace attack. The spin department will be spearheaded by off-spinner Saransh Jain, who was the leading wicket-taker in last year's competition, and left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey.

The Central Zone selection committee has also named a six-member stand-by list to cover for any potential injuries to main squad members during the tournament. The stand-by players include Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav, and Kumar Kartikeya.

The support staff for the team includes former Rajasthan player Nikhil Doru as head coach, Manish Jha as assistant coach, and Zuffri Zakeria as team manager. The medical and physical conditioning team comprises physiotherapist Deshraj Chouhan, trainer Mayank Agarwal, and masseur Mohit Kumar.

The Central Zone squad is looking strong, with a good mix of experienced and young players. With Rajat Patidar leading the team, they will be looking to retain their title and make it back-to-back wins.

The Duleep Trophy is a prestigious tournament in Indian domestic cricket, and the Central Zone team will be facing tough competition from other zones. However, with their strong squad and experienced captain, they will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to start on August 23, and the Central Zone team will be looking to get off to a strong start. With the squad and support staff in place, they will be looking to make a statement in the tournament and bring home the title.

The Duleep Trophy is an important tournament for Indian domestic cricket, as it provides a platform for players to showcase their skills and potentially get selected for the national team. The Central Zone team will be looking to make the most of this opportunity and perform well in the tournament.

In conclusion, the Central Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026 has been announced, with Rajat Patidar retained as captain and Rinku Singh named vice-captain. The team has a strong squad and experienced support staff, and they will be looking to retain their title and make a deep run in the tournament.