First Class Cricket
19

Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya Give Central Zone Upper Hand on First Day

On Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final at Bengaluru, South Zone was bowled out for 149 in 63 overs, with Tanmay Agarwal top-scoring 31. Central Zone spinners Saransh Jain (5/49) and Kumar Kartikeya (4/53) dominated. Central Zone responded strongly, reaching 50 without loss in 19 overs, with Danish Malewar on 28* and Akshay Wadkar 20*.

Jain and Kartikeya's bowling puts Central Zone in command.
Image: Jain and Kartikeya's bowling puts Central Zone in command / © ESPNcricinfo

Starting the Finals of the Duleep Trophy, the match between South Zone and Central Zone kicked off on September 11, 2025, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. It was a day filled with spin bowling dominance and cautious batting, setting up an intriguing contest. South Zone batted first after Central Zone won the toss and chose to field, hoping to make the most of the conditions. But things didn’t go as planned for the South batters, who struggled against a disciplined attack led by the spinners.

South Zone Innings

South Zone’s innings started steadily but soon unraveled. Openers Tanmay Agarwal and Mohit Kale came out to face the new ball from Deepak Chahar and Aditya Thakare. Chahar bowled economically, giving away just 11 runs in his six overs with one maiden, while Thakare was even tighter, conceding only seven runs in four overs with two maidens. The pair focused on seam movement early on, but the batters managed to see off the initial spell without much damage. Agarwal looked composed, scoring 31 off 76 balls with three boundaries, showing good footwork against the pacers. Kale, however, was more defensive, managing nine runs off 50 balls before falling to Kumar Kartikeya in the 16th over.

Kartikeya, the left-arm spinner, struck first for Central Zone, dismissing Kale bowled for nine. This broke a 27-run opening stand. Ravichandran Smaran joined Agarwal, but he too couldn’t settle, scoring just one off 19 balls before Kartikeya got him caught by Saransh Jain. The score was 35 for two after 21 overs, and South Zone was already under pressure. Agarwal continued to anchor, but in the 26th over, he was run out for 31 while attempting a quick single, thanks to a sharp throw from Danish Malewar. This left South at 47 for three.

Mohammed Azharuddeen, the captain and wicketkeeper, came in next but lasted only nine balls, scoring four before Kartikeya bowled him in the 30th over. Ricky Bhui, who had shown some promise with 15 off 53 balls, including two fours, was next to go, trapped lbw by Jain in the 37th over. The decision was reviewed, but it stood on the umpire’s call. At 65 for five, South Zone was in deep trouble before lunch, which they reached at 64 for four after 33 overs.

Post-lunch, Salman Nizar and C Andre Siddarth tried to rebuild. Nizar played aggressively at times, hitting two fours and a six in his 24 off 52 balls. Siddarth added 12 off 19 with one four, but their 32-run partnership ended when Siddarth was stumped off Jain in the 43rd over. Nizar followed soon after, caught by Rajat Patidar off Jain for 24 in the 49th over, making it 116 for seven. The lower order offered little resistance. Ankit Sharma scored 20 off 64 balls with two fours, trying to hang around, but Gurjapneet Singh managed only two off 13 before being lbw to Kartikeya in the 54th over.

MD Nidheesh provided a brief spark with 12 off 13, including a four, but he was caught and bowled by Jain in the 57th over. Vasuki Koushik remained not out on two off 13, as Sharma was the last to fall, lbw to Jain in the 63rd over. South Zone was all out for 149 in 63 overs, with extras contributing 17 (eight byes, six leg byes, three no-balls). The run rate was a sluggish 2.36 per over. The bowling stars were the spinners. Saransh Jain was outstanding, taking five wickets for 49 in 24 overs with two maidens. His variations troubled the batters, and he mixed flight with turn effectively.

Kartikeya supported with four for 53 in 21 overs, including one maiden, using his arm ball to good effect. The pacers, Chahar (0-11 in six), Thakare (0-7 in four), and Kuldeep Sen (0-15 in eight with three maidens) provided a solid start but didn’t take wickets. Sen bowled with pace, hitting 1.87 economy, but the spin duo did the damage. There were several reviews during the innings. Central challenged a wicket in the ninth over but lost it on the umpire’s call. Another in the 23rd over for Agarwal was struck down. South reviewed Bhui’s lbw in the 37th over, but it stood.

Later, Gurjapneet’s lbw in the 54th was upheld on umpire’s call, and Sharma’s final dismissal in the 63rd was also confirmed after review. Drinks were taken at 24 for none after 15 overs, then at 108 for six after 47. South crossed 50 in the 28th over and 100 in the 45th. The innings break came after tea, with South folding just before the session ended. Overall, it was a disappointing batting display, marked by poor shot selection and an inability to counter spin on a track that offered turn from day one.

Central Zone Innings

Central Zone’s response began in the late afternoon, with openers Danish Malewar and Akshay Wadkar facing the South bowlers. They had about 19 overs to bat before stumps, and they made the most of it, finishing unbeaten on 50 for none. Malewar was the more aggressive, scoring 28 not out off 64 balls with three fours, while Wadkar played a supporting role with 20 not out off 52, also hitting three boundaries. The bowling attack started with Gurjapneet Singh and Ankit Sharma.

Singh bowled four overs for 21 runs with one maiden, generating some swing but no breakthroughs. Sharma, the spinner, sent down eight overs for 22 with one maiden and two no-balls, trying to extract a turn, but the openers handled him well. MD Nidheesh came on for three overs, conceding six with one maiden, keeping things tight. Vasuki Koushik was the most economical, bowling four overs for just one run with three maidens, but even he couldn’t force an error.

The pair started cautiously, respecting the good balls and punishing the loose ones. They reached drinks at 48 for none after 14 overs, with Malewar on 28 and Wadkar on 19. The 50-run stand came in the 17th over, off 99 balls, including two extras (both no-balls). Central’s run rate was 2.63, steady without risks. South tried to break the stand. In the eighth over, they challenged for Wadkar’s wicket but lost it. Later, in the 19th over, they reviewed Malewar, but it was struck down on the umpire’s call. The openers rotated strike well, with Malewar driving confidently and Wadkar playing late.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

For the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, the dismissal of Salman Nizar in South Zone’s first innings was a standout highlight. Batting at number six, Nizar scored 24 runs off 52 balls, including two fours and a six, at a strike rate of 46.15. His gritty knock helped stabilize the innings after early setbacks. However, his stay ended dramatically in the 48.3rd over, bowled by Saransh Jain. Jain delivered a ball that kicked up sharply from a length, catching Nizar off guard as he pushed forward defensively.

The ball took the edge, flying toward silly point, where the fielder got a hand to it, but it popped out. Quick to react, Rajat Patidar at gully dove forward, snatching the ball just inches off the ground to complete a stunning catch. This dismissal left South Zone at 116/7, further denting their innings, which eventually folded for 149 in 63 overs. Jain’s spell of 5 for 49 was pivotal, with this moment taking up sharp bowling and exceptional fielding, making it a defining turning point in the match.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

When the South Zone struggled in their first innings, Kumar Kartikeya emerged as the standout performer, earning the title of TCNI’s Hero of the Day. The left-arm spinner bowled an impressive 21 overs, maintaining a tight economy rate of 2.52. His disciplined bowling tore through the South Zone batting lineup, claiming four crucial wickets. Kartikeya dismissed Mohit Kale, Ravichandran Smaran, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and Gurjapneet Singh, consistently troubling the batsmen with his sharp turn and accuracy.

His efforts were pivotal in restricting the South Zone to a modest total of 149 runs in 63 overs. Kartikeya’s ability to maintain pressure, conceding only 53 runs, showcased his skill and composure on a pitch offering assistance to spinners. Alongside Saransh Jain, who took five wickets, Kartikeya’s performance ensured the opposition could never settle, with regular breakthroughs disrupting their momentum. His contribution was instrumental in keeping the bowling side in control, making him the hero of the day for his match-defining spell.

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