The Central Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2025, announced on August 7, 2025, is led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and features a mix of established internationals and promising domestic players. The tournament, starting August 28 in Bengaluru, marks the return to a six-team zonal format for India’s 2025-26 domestic season. Central Zone faces North East Zone in the quarter-final, aiming for a semi-final spot. With players like Rajat Patidar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Deepak Chahar, the squad offers insights into India’s red-ball cricket pipeline. Below are detailed player profiles, with replacement and standby players listed separately, followed by an analysis from an Indian cricket perspective and the full squad list. Due to potential Asia Cup commitments (September 9-28, overlapping with the Duleep Trophy), Rajat Patidar may miss the tournament, with Aniket Verma confirmed as his replacement by the BCCI and zonal selectors.
1. Dhruv Jurel (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, Captain): A 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, Jurel has emerged as a key Test prospect, having played as a backup keeper in India’s recent England tour. Known for his composed batting and sharp glovework, he led Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. His leadership and dual skills make him a cornerstone for Central Zone. A strong Duleep Trophy could solidify his position as a Test backup to Rishabh Pant, especially with his ability to handle pressure situations.
2. Rajat Patidar (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 32-year-old right-hand batter, Patidar was part of India’s Test squad in England, scoring a century in the fifth Test. His aggressive middle-order batting is a standout for Madhya Pradesh. His participation is uncertain due to potential Asia Cup duties, with Aniket Verma confirmed as his replacement. Patidar’s form makes him a key figure for India’s Test middle order, and a big tournament could cement his spot if he plays.
3. Aryan Juyal (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, Juyal is a consistent performer for Uttar Pradesh, known for his solid technique and ability to anchor innings. As a backup keeper, he adds depth. With India’s wicketkeeping options competitive, Juyal needs a standout performance to push for India A selection, leveraging his domestic experience.
4. Danish Malewar (Chhattisgarh Cricket Association): A 22-year-old batter from Chhattisgarh, Malewar is an emerging talent known for his aggressive strokeplay. His inclusion reflects Central Zone’s focus on youth. With India seeking new batting options, a strong tournament could position him for India A or higher domestic honors.
5. Sanchit Desai (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 26-year-old batter, Desai is a versatile domestic performer from Madhya Pradesh, known for his adaptability and grit. His role will be to stabilize the batting lineup. Consistent runs in the Duleep Trophy could elevate his profile for India A consideration, especially in a competitive middle order.
6. Kuldeep Yadav (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A 30-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner, Kuldeep is a Test regular with over 50 wickets in 2024-25. Known for his variations and guile, he’s a match-winner on spin-friendly pitches. His experience will be crucial for Central Zone in Bengaluru. As a Test mainstay, his focus will be maintaining form and mentoring younger players.
7. Aditya Thakare (Vidarbha Cricket Association): A 27-year-old right-arm pacer from Vidarbha, Thakare is known for his accuracy and ability to swing the ball. He’s been a consistent domestic performer. His role will be to lead the pace attack, and a strong showing could put him in contention for India A, especially with India’s pace depth under scrutiny.
8. Deepak Chahar (Rajasthan Cricket Association): A 33-year-old right-arm pacer, Chahar returns to red-ball cricket after focusing on white-ball formats. Known for swing and seam movement, he’s a former India ODI player. The Duleep Trophy is a platform to prove his red-ball credentials, potentially earning an India A call-up if he can replicate his white-ball swing.
9. Saransh Jain (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 28-year-old off-spinner from Madhya Pradesh, Jain is a domestic stalwart with over 80 first-class wickets, known for his control and ability to bowl long spells. His experience will complement Kuldeep on Bengaluru’s pitches. Consistent performances could position him as a backup spinner for India A.
10. Ayush Pandey (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A 23-year-old batter from Uttar Pradesh, Pandey is a promising talent known for his elegant strokeplay and ability to build innings. His role will be to provide stability in the top order. A big tournament could fast-track him to India A, especially with India seeking young batters.
11. Shubham Sharma (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 31-year-old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, Sharma is a right-hand batter and off-spinner, known for his versatility and domestic consistency. His dual skills add balance to the squad. His performance could make him a contender for India A, particularly as an all-round option.
12. Yash Rathod (Vidarbha Cricket Association): A 25-year-old batter from Vidarbha, Rathod is known for his aggressive approach and ability to dominate spin. His inclusion highlights Central Zone’s focus on dynamic batting. A strong Duleep Trophy could position him as a middle-order prospect for India A.
13. Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha Cricket Association): A 22-year-old left-arm spinner from Vidarbha, Dubey is an emerging talent known for his accuracy and variations. His inclusion reflects India’s investment in young spinners. With senior spinners aging, a standout performance could mark him as a future India A prospect.
14. Manav Suthar (Rajasthan Cricket Association): A 23-year-old left-arm spinner from Rajasthan, Suthar has impressed in domestic cricket with his control and wicket-taking ability. His role will be to support Kuldeep and Jain. A strong tournament could elevate his status as a potential backup for India’s Test spin attack.
15. Khaleel Ahmed (Rajasthan Cricket Association): A 27-year-old left-arm pacer, Khaleel has Test experience and is known for his pace and swing. He’s been a consistent performer for Rajasthan. The Duleep Trophy is a chance to push for a Test recall, especially with his ability to trouble batters with bounce and movement.
Replacement Players
1. Aniket Verma (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 23-year-old batter from Madhya Pradesh, Verma is the confirmed replacement for Rajat Patidar due to potential Asia Cup commitments. Known for his aggressive batting and recent IPL performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored a 41-ball 74 against Delhi Capitals, Verma’s domestic form, including a century in the Under-23 one-day tournament, makes him a reliable backup. His inclusion ensures middle-order stability.
Standby Players
1. Madhav Kaushik (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A 27-year-old opener from Uttar Pradesh, Kaushik is known for his solid technique and consistency in domestic cricket. As a standby, he provides top-order depth, ready to step in if needed.
2. Yash Thakur (Vidarbha Cricket Association): A 27-year-old right-arm pacer from Vidarbha, Thakur is a consistent domestic performer known for his pace and swing. His standby role adds depth to the pace attack.
3. Yuvraj Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A young batter from Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary is an emerging talent with an aggressive approach, offering dynamism as a standby option.
4. Mahipal Lomror (Rajasthan Cricket Association): A 25-year-old all-rounder, Lomror is a left-hand batter and left-arm spinner, known for his IPL performances and growing red-ball reputation. His versatility makes him a valuable standby.
5. Kuldeep Sen (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association): A 28-year-old right-arm pacer, Sen is known for his raw pace and ability to generate bounce. His standby role strengthens the pace bowling reserves.
6. Upendra Yadav (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association): A 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, Yadav is a domestic veteran with solid glovework and lower-order batting ability, providing backup for Jurel and Juyal.
The Central Zone squad blends Test experience with emerging talent, reflecting India’s focus on red-ball depth. Dhruv Jurel’s leadership, backed by his Test exposure, provides stability, while Rajat Patidar’s potential absence due to the Asia Cup tests the squad’s adaptability, with Aniket Verma’s confirmed inclusion as a dynamic replacement. The batting unit, featuring Jurel, Pandey, and Rathod, balances youth and aggression, crucial as India transitions from veterans like Pujara and Rahane. The pace attack—Chahar, Thakare, Khaleel, and Suthar—offers swing, pace, and bounce, aligning with India’s goal to deepen its pace pool beyond Bumrah and Siraj. The spin trio of Kuldeep, Jain, and Dubey provides variety, well-suited to Bengaluru’s spin-friendly conditions. The squad’s composition, with strong representation from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha, showcases Central Zone’s robust domestic base. This tournament is a proving ground for Test hopefuls like Jurel, Patidar, and Khaleel, while young players like Dubey and Malewar aim to break into the India A setup.
Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy 2025 squad combines proven performers like Kuldeep Yadav and Dhruv Jurel with rising stars like Harsh Dubey and Danish Malewar, poised to make an impact in the knockout format. The tournament is a critical platform for identifying India’s next Test players, particularly in batting and pace bowling. With Jurel leading and talents like Pandey and Suthar eager to shine, Central Zone could dominate the domestic season while feeding India’s Test pipeline. The replacement and standby players, including the confirmed Aniket Verma, ensure depth, addressing potential disruptions from the Asia Cup.
Central Zone Full Squad
Dhruv Jurel, Rajat Patidar, Aryan Juyal, Danish Malewar, Sanchit Desai, Kuldeep Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Deepak Chahar, Saransh Jain, Ayush Pandey, Shubham Sharma, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Aniket Verma, Madhav Kaushik, Yash Thakur, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Mahipal Lomror, Kuldeep Sen, Upendra Yadav
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