Dhruv Jurel to lead Central Zone in Duleep Trophy 2025-26; Rajat Patidar included subject to fitness | Cricket News
Dhruv Jurel has been appointed as captain of the Central Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025-26 season, as announced on August 7, 2025. The wicketkeeper-batter, who recently played for India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, will lead a 15-member squad that includes notable players like IPL winning-captain Rajat Patidar and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The Central Zone selection committee has named a strong squad combining experienced players with emerging talent. Rajat Patidar’s inclusion in the team comes with a condition, as he needs to obtain fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence before participating in the tournament. Jurel’s appointment as captain follows his impressive performances during India A’s tour to England, despite not featuring in the Ranji Trophy last season. His recent international exposure and leadership qualities have earned him the responsibility of leading the Central Zone team. The squad announcement has attracted attention due to some notable exclusions. Karun Nair, who had an exceptional Ranji Trophy season with Vidarbha scoring 863 runs, has been left out of the team despite his recent India call-up.
The 15-member squad features a balanced mix of batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders. The batting department includes players like Aryan Juyal, Danish Malewar, and Sanchit Desai, while the bowling attack is strengthened by the presence of experienced campaigners like Deepak Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed. The selection committee has also named six players as standbys for the squad. These include Madhav Kaushik, Yash Thakur, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Mahipal Lomror, Kuldeep Sen, and Upendra Yadav, who can be called upon if required.
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The complete Central Zone squad comprises Dhruv Jurel (captain/wicketkeeper), Rajat Patidar (subject to fitness clearance), Aryan Juyal, Danish Malewar, Sanchit Desai, Kuldeep Yadav, Aditya Thakare, Deepak Chahar, Saransh Jain, Ayush Pandey, Shubham Sharma, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar, and Khaleel Ahmed. This announcement follows the naming of Shubman Gill as the captain of North Zone earlier on the same day, as the preparations for the Duleep Trophy 2025-26 begin to take shape. The tournament serves as a prestigious domestic cricket competition in India, featuring teams from different zones competing against each other.
