The Duleep Trophy 2025 kicked off on 28th August, with Central Zone vs North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. On the Opening day Central Zone dominated proceedings, piling up a commanding 432/ 2 in 73.1 overs . The highlights was the Danish Malewar's unbeaten 198, skipper Rajat Patidar's 125, and Aryan Juyal ' s fluent 60 before retiring hurt. For North East Zone , Aakash Choudhary and Pheroijam Jotin were the only wicket takers
Malewar's Record Brilliance
The hero of the day was undoubtedly Danish Malewar, who played the innings of his life. The Vidarbha right hander remained unbeaten on 198 off 219 balls, his highest first class score and his maiden Duleep trophy century. Malewar's knock was not just about numbers, it was about composure, balance, and the ability to meet the demands of the situation.
After an early setback he soaked up the pressure before gradually unfurling a wide range of Strokes. His innings had 36 boundaries, most of them crafted with elegant timing rather than brute force. What stood out was his maturity picking the gaps , working the singles and pushing every loose delivery. As the day wore on Malewar Accelerated smoothly, showing both patience and Aggression in equal measure.
Patidar's Aggressive Counterattack
If Malewar anchored the innings, skipper Rajat Patidar injected the flair. Walking in with intent, the Madhya Pradesh batter counterattacked from the word go , racing to his century in just 80 deliveries. His innings of 125 off 96 balls included 21 fours and three sixes, reflecting his natural attacking instincts.
The partnership between Malewar and Patidar worth over 199 runs was the defining passage of play. Together, they nullified North East Zone's early breakthrough and batted the opposition out of the contest. For the fielding side , chances were rare and even when Jotin Pheiroijam finally removed Patidar it did little to dent Central's control.
Central Zone in Firm Command
By the close of play, Malewar had a solid partner in Yash Rathod (32*), ensuring Central Zone's momentum was intact. Their dominance of the batting Lineup left North East Zone searching for answers with both their frontline and support bowlers struggling to find breakthroughs. With wickets in hand and runs flowing freely, Central Zone now hold a commanding position.
Central Zone Seizes Control on Opening Day
Blower performance Central Zone 's opening day with nothing short of a spectacular setting, the tone for the Duleep Trophy with an imposing total, and dominating the proceedings.
Central Zone dominated opening day with Malewar's unbeaten 198 and Patidar's fiery century, putting North East Zone on the back foot. With the Malewar just two runs away from a double ton, Day 2 promises more action. One thing is clear. The Duleep trophy is back in style, retaining every one of its legacies as a true stage for rising stars.