Duleep Trophy 2025 final at the BCCI CEG Ground in Bengaluru began on September 11 with South Zone and Central Zone vying for the prestigious title. South Zone batted first and were bundled out for 149 in 63 overs as Central Zone bowlers applied disciplined pressure. On Day 2 Central Zone resumed and set their sights on overturning the deficit and seizing control of the match.
Rajat Patidar’s commanding century steers Central Zone to advantage
Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar played the innings of the match in the second innings. He combined patient defence with powerful strokes to anchor the chase. Openers Danish Malewar and Akshay Wadkar provided a steady start with scores of 53 off 120 balls and 22 off 60 balls respectively. When Malewar departed at 93 for three in the 33rd over, Patidar entered and immediately took charge. He reached fifty in the 49th over with seven fours to his name and maintained a strike rate near 88.
In the 66.2 over, Ankit Sharma bowled a full delivery that Patidar drove crisply through mid off and ran a single to bring up his century. He raised his bat to an ecstatic applause from teammates and the sparse but vocal crowd. His 101 runs came off 115 deliveries and included twelve fours and two sixes. Alongside Yash Rathod’s unbeaten 71 off 99 balls, Patidar’s knock propelled Central Zone to 267 for five in 69.3 overs by stumps on day two. The pair added 115 runs for the fourth wicket to turn the tide firmly in Central Zone’s favour.
Here’s how fans reacted:
CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR SMASHED A CENTURY IN DULEEP TROPHY FINAL. pic.twitter.com/6uqNLxDKAO
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 12, 2025
– 125(96) in Quarter Final.
– 66(72) in Quarter Final.
– 77(84) in Semi Final.
– 101(115) in Final.RAJAT PATIDAR DESERVES A STANDING OVATION FOR HIS PERFORMANCE IN DULEEP TROPHY pic.twitter.com/XfzntxxoX9
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 12, 2025
TAKE A BOW CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR. pic.twitter.com/ViFFugGkhx
— Md Nagori (@Sulemannagori23) September 12, 2025
CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR SMASHED A CENTURY IN DULEEP TROPHY FINAL.
It comes out in just 112 balls#DuleepTrophy #SouthZone #DuleepTrophy2025 #CentralZone #rajatpatidar #BCCI #IndianCricket #CricketTwitter #Century #Captian
— A2ZCRICKET (@a2zcric) September 12, 2025
Hundred in the final by Captain Rajat Patidar watching him shut every hater with his bat feels so special pic.twitter.com/wseRPNRtpV
— Eshita (@hereforpatidar) September 12, 2025
Big stage, big knock! Rajat Patidar rises to the occasion with a classy century in the Duleep Trophy final pic.twitter.com/rIs5B5nJy2
— Vinay (@yaarkyakaruu) September 12, 2025
– 368 runs in 4 innings.
– 100+ Strike rate.
– 2 Centuries.
– 2 fifties.CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR SCORED MOST RUNS AS BATTER AND CAPTAIN IN THIS DULEEP TROPHY SEASON. Fantastic Patidar pic.twitter.com/clld7fDNly
— DIVYANSH CHAUHAN (@Imchauhan28) September 12, 2025
Currently, India’s best T20 captain
IPL winning captain Sir Rajat Patidar scored 100 on final. Man for the big stageWe’re living in #RaPa era pic.twitter.com/QWUuI8IUXO https://t.co/Ae0aIhbVfh
— Joseph Kohli (@Joseph_Kohli__) September 12, 2025
Captain Rajat Patidar pic.twitter.com/zJteBOFLpk
— Keshava (@Keshav367212606) September 12, 2025
Rajat Manohar Patidar pic.twitter.com/oeyhXLabPj
— Parag (@paragrege31) September 12, 2025
CAPTAIN RAJAT MANOHAR PATIDAR!pic.twitter.com/EExD2MRjMr https://t.co/OajmvFckkc
— Yash. (@TheSDELad) September 12, 2025
Also WATCH: Arjun Tendulkar shines with sensational 5-wicket haul against Maharashtra
Central Zone build a strong lead over South Zone
Central Zone’s total gave them a lead of 118 runs heading into day three. Saransh Jain and Gurjapneet Singh had earlier claimed eight wickets between them in South Zone’s first innings but their efforts could not contain the runs on the second morning. Rathod joined Patidar and added crucial runs to drive the momentum. Rathod’s patient batting alongside his captain’s aggressive stroke play meant Central Zone overtook the 250 mark in the 66th over.
As the fielding side packed the boundary ropes, Patidar rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries. By close of play South Zone faced the challenge of not only erasing the 118 run deficit but also negating the confidence of a side led by its experienced skipper. Central Zone will look to press on with the advantage while South Zone must rely on their bowlers to strike early on day three to turn the final back in their favour.
Also WATCH: Rajat Patidar takes a never-seen-before catch in Duleep Trophy 2025 final between South Zone and Central Zone
