Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh Handed Central Zone Captaincy Roles For Duleep Trophy

Rajat Patidar (R) & Rinku Singh (Source: AFP Photos)Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh were picked as captain and vice-captains respectively as Central Zone on Saturday picked squad for Duleep Trophy 2026.Central Zone are the reigning Duleep Trophy champions, and Rajat Patidar, RCB’s back-to-back title winning captain in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026, will take up the responsibility to defend the championship. He will have the leadership support of Rinku Singh, who missed out on playing last edition’s Duleep Trophy.As many as 15 players have been selected in Central Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2026, while six players – Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and Kumar Kartikeya – have been picked as reserves.Duleep Trophy 2026 will begin on August 23, with five Tests to be played across the competition. Central Zone will be joined by East Zone, North East Zone, North Zone, West Zone and South Zone in the tournament, with the final to be played on September 6.Saransh Jain Makes The Cut For Central Zone's Duleep Trophy SquadSaransh Jain, who was recently added in India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka tour, has been there in the main Duleep Trophy squad as well. Two SRH spin bowling options – Zeeshan Ansari and Harsh Dubey – have also been there.Also Read: Bat, Ball, And Brilliance- When Saransh Jain Stunned With All-Round Spectacle In Duleep TrophyAmong wicket-keepers, Aryan Juyal and Kunal Singh Rathod are there to take up the big gloves behind the stumps, while Yash Thakur is the only notable name in fast-bowling department.Central Zone Squad For Duleep Trophy 2026Rajat Patidar (c), Rinku Singh (vc), Aryan Juyal (wk), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur and Nachiket BhuteStand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and Kumar KartikeyaWhat Happened In Last Year's Duleep Trophy Under Rajat Patidar?Central Zone defeated South Zone by six wickets in the last edition’s Duleep Trophy final, which took place at BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, Bengaluru. Rajat Patidar was at the helm in the last edition as well, with the likes of Danish Malewar, Yash Rathod, Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Sen, among others, being there as well.By making 382 runs across five innings in Duleep Trophy 2025, Rajat Patidar led by example to finish as the leading run-getter in the last edition.On the other hand, Saransh Jain claimed 16 wickets across two matches to finish as the highest wicket-taker in Duleep Trophy 2025. Central Zone will directly play the semi-final, along with South Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026. The winners of the East Zone vs North East Zone and North Zone vs West Zone will join them, with the semi-finals scheduled to get underway on August 30 onwards.Also Read: Litton Das Makes Wildcard Entry Into Bangladesh Squad For Australia Tests