Duleep Trophy 2026-27: Rajat Patidar Named Central Zone Captain, Rinku Singh Appointed Deputy
Rajat Patidar will captain defending champions Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026-27, with Rinku Singh as vice-captain. The squad features recent India debutants Harsh Dubey (24) and Yash Thakur (27), along with Saransh Jain (33), who earned a maiden Test call-up for Sri Lanka. Central Zone starts its semi-final campaign on August 30, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
Defending champions Central Zone are set to embark on their Duleep Trophy 2026-27 campaign under the leadership of India international Rajat Patidar, who has been appointed captain for the upcoming first-class tournament. India batter Rinku Singh will serve as the vice-captain, as the side prepares to kick off its title defence directly from the semi-final stage in Bengaluru. Ishan Kishan to Lead East Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026-27; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named Vice-Captain.
The Central Zone squad, announced today, includes a blend of experienced campaigners and exciting young talent, notably featuring Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur, who recently made their India debuts. Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain, fresh off a maiden Test call-up for India's tour of Sri Lanka, also finds a place in the formidable lineup.
Central Zone Squad Unveiled
Central Zone, having secured a direct berth into the semi-finals as last year's winners, will play their first match on August 30, 2026. The full squad reflects a strong mix of batting prowess and bowling options:
| Role | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Captain | Rajat Patidar |
| Vice-Captain | Rinku Singh |
| Wicketkeepers | Aryan Juyal, Kunal Singh Rathod |
| Batters | Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Yash Rathod |
| All-Rounders | Saransh Jain, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Harsh Dubey |
| Bowlers | Zeeshan Ansari, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute |
Rising Stars and India Prospects
The inclusion of Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, and Saransh Jain underscores the selectors' focus on rewarding recent performances and developing a strong pipeline for national duty. Harsh Dubey, a 23-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner and a capable left-handed batter, made his ODI debut for India on June 13, 2026, against Afghanistan. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, where he made history with 69 wickets and scored 476 runs, leading Vidarbha to the title. Dubey also featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2025 and was retained for the 2026 season.
Yash Thakur, a 27-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler, recently represented India in the T20I series against Zimbabwe in July 2026. Known for his pace, bounce, and ability to deliver effective spells across formats, Thakur has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for Punjab Kings in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Why 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has Been Appointed East Zone Vice-Captain For Duleep Trophy 2026-27?.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, has been rewarded for his consistent performances with a maiden Test call-up for India's forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Jain was a standout performer in the Duleep Trophy 2025, where he was named Player of the Series, having taken 16 wickets and scored crucial half-centuries, finishing with 136 runs. His all-round brilliance will be crucial for Central Zone's title aspirations.
With a powerful squad featuring a mix of established stars and burgeoning national talents, Central Zone will be eager to defend their Duleep Trophy title. The tournament promises to be a crucial platform for these players to impress national selectors ahead of India's challenging overseas Test assignments later this year.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2026 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
