The Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinals began in style as two in-form batters, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Narayan Jagadeesan, lit up the opening day with contrasting yet dominant centuries. While Gaikwad’s explosive 184 powered West Zone to a commanding total against Central Zone, Jagadeesan’s gritty unbeaten 148 steadied South Zone against North Zone. Both matches witnessed strong batting performances but also highlighted lapses in bowling discipline.
South Zone vs North Zone: Jagadeesan Anchors Innings With 148*
After being asked to bat first, South Zone made steady progress on Day 1, thanks to an excellent knock from Narayan Jagadeesan. His unbeaten 148 anchored the innings and left South Zone in a strong position at 297/3 by stumps.
Early Dominance From Openers
South Zone openers Tanmay Agarwal and Jagadeesan ensured a safe start, taking the team to 79/0 by Lunch. The duo added 103 runs for the first wicket before Agarwal (43) was bowled by Nishant Sindhu, providing North Zone with their first breakthrough.
Partnerships That Frustrated North Zone
After Agarwal’s dismissal, Devdutt Padikkal joined Jagadeesan and contributed a fluent 57. The pair stitched together a crucial 123-run stand to keep the scoreboard moving.
Though Padikkal was dismissed just before Tea, Jagadeesan remained unshaken, reaching his century with a blend of patience and timely aggression.
North Zone’s Bowling Woes
North Zone, who made two changes by bringing in Yudhvir Singh Charak and Anshul Kamboj, struggled with discipline. They conceded 22 extras, including 13 no-balls, a statistic that summed up their erratic bowling performance.
Bad light brought an early end to proceedings after 81 overs, leaving South Zone firmly in control.
Brief Scores:
South Zone 297/3 (Narayan Jagadeesan 148*, Devdutt Padikkal 57; Nishant Sindhu 2-59, Anshul Kamboj 1-47) vs North Zone
West Zone vs Central Zone: Gaikwad’s Blazing 184 Sets Stage
In the other semifinal, Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a breathtaking innings of 184 to put West Zone in command against Central Zone. His knock, packed with 25 fours and a six, came at a brisk strike rate of nearly 90 and was the standout performance of the day.
A Rocky Start for West Zone
Opting to bat first, West Zone endured early setbacks:
Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) was trapped lbw by Khaleel Ahmed in just the third delivery of the game.
Harvik Desai (1) fell soon after to Deepak Chahar, leaving the side tottering at 10/2.
Gaikwad to the Rescue
Gaikwad then took charge, rebuilding the innings with composure and flair.
He first partnered Aarya Desai in an 82-run stand, before Desai fell for 41.
Despite small contributions from Shreyas Iyer (25) and Shams Mulani (18), West Zone were reduced to 179/5 at one stage.
Game-Changing Partnership With Kotian
The tide turned when Tanush Kotian (65)* joined Gaikwad. The duo added a match-defining 148-run partnership, lifting West Zone from a precarious situation to a commanding position. Gaikwad eventually fell stumped to Saransh Jain, but not before putting his team in control.
Skipper Shardul Thakur (24)* and Kotian ensured West Zone finished strongly at 363/6.
Brief Scores:
West Zone 363/6 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 184, Tanush Kotian 65*; Khaleel Ahmed 2-70, Saransh Jain 2-109) vs Central Zone
Key Takeaways From Day 1
Jagadeesan’s Patience Pays Off: His ability to absorb pressure and keep one end intact highlighted South Zone’s depth in batting.
Gaikwad’s Aggression: In contrast, Gaikwad’s counterattacking century was a reminder of his growing stature as one of India’s most versatile batters.
North Zone’s Indiscipline: Conceding 13 no-balls on such a stage could prove costly as South Zone looks to build on the platform.
Central Zone’s Missed Chances: Early wickets were not capitalized upon, allowing Gaikwad and Kotian to tilt the momentum.
Semifinal Stage Set: Both semifinals are evenly poised, but West Zone and South Zone appear to have seized early control.
Looking Ahead
As the matches progress:
South Zone will aim to push beyond 450 on Day 2, riding on Jagadeesan’s resilience and support from the middle order.
North Zone need quick wickets early in the morning session to claw back.
For West Zone, the focus will be on converting their total into a match-winning one, while the Central Zone will rely on early breakthroughs to stay alive in the contest.
Both games underline the richness of talent in Indian domestic cricket, where performances in the Duleep Trophy continue to serve as a platform for national selection and recognition.
