Patidar and Rathod's Masterclass: Central Zone Dominates Duleep Trophy Final

Day two of the Duleep Trophy final witnessed a spectacular display of batting prowess, as Rajat Patidar and Yash Rathod carved out magnificent centuries, propelling Central Zone into a commanding position against South Zone. Their monumental 219-run partnership for the third wicket effectively took the game away from the Southern challengers, leaving them searching for answers on a placid track.

Resuming at an overnight score of 162 for 2, Central Zone built on their solid foundation, with Patidar (70 not out) and Rathod (19 not out) picking up exactly where they left off.

Patidar, known for his aggressive yet elegant strokeplay, quickly reached his century, showcasing a blend of power and precision. He found a reliable partner in Rathod, who, though initially watchful, soon blossomed into a formidable force himself. Their partnership became the cornerstone of Central Zone’s innings, frustrating South Zone’s bowlers who toiled hard with little reward.

Rajat Patidar's innings was a treat to watch.

He hammered a brilliant 164 runs off just 202 deliveries, adorned with 17 exquisite fours and 4 towering sixes, asserting his dominance over the bowling attack. His dismissal came at the hands of left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore, who managed to breach his defence, but by then, Patidar had inflicted significant damage.

Not long after, Yash Rathod completed his own well-deserved century, a gritty 118 runs from 177 balls, featuring 15 boundaries, before falling to V. Kaushik.

Even after the departure of their centurions, Central Zone maintained their grip on the match. Akhil Herwadkar contributed a steady half-century (50), providing further stability, while captain Karan Sharma remained unbeaten on 30, ensuring there were no late jitters.

At stumps on Day 2, Central Zone had amassed a formidable 427 for 4, boasting a substantial first-innings lead that puts them in the driver's seat for the remainder of the contest.

South Zone’s bowling unit struggled to make significant inroads throughout the day. While Vidwath Kaverappa, V.

Kaushik, and R. Sai Kishore managed to pick up a wicket each, the collective effort lacked the penetration required to unsettle the Central Zone batsmen. The pitch offered little assistance, but the disciplined and aggressive approach from Patidar and Rathod ensured that Central Zone capitalized fully, putting themselves in a prime position to clinch the Duleep Trophy.