New Delhi , will captain defending champions Central Zone in the upcoming season of the . The squad also features three other players from the senior national team, including Rinku Singh, left-arm-spin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey and fast bowler Yash Thakur.
Patidar’s teammate from Madhya Pradesh, Saransh Jain, who is part of India’s Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, will lead the spin attack along with Dubey and Uttar Pradesh’s Zeeshan Ansari, who made his comeback in red-ball cricket after five years on the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka.
Aman Mokhade was also included in the team for his season performance in the 2025-26 season of the Ranji Trophy, which earned him an India A call-up. The Vidarbha opener scored 760 runs in 11 innings at an average of 76. The selectors have also picked Chhattisgarh opener Ayush Pandey, who also made his India A debut during the Sri Lanka tour.
Meanwhile, the Central Zone’s fast-bowling pack involves Vidarbha’s Nachiket Bhute and MP left-arm pacer Arshad Khan. UP’s Aryan Juyal is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Kunal Singh Rathore named as his backup.
As defending champions, Central Zone have received a bye in the opening round and will directly enter the semi-finals, which are scheduled to start on August 30. They will take on the winner between East Zone and North East Zone. The tournament will begin on August 23 at the BCCI’s CoE grounds in Bengaluru, and the final will be played from September 6.
Central Zone squad for Duleep Trophy
Rajat Patidar (capt), Aryan Juyal (wk), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute.