Coming in with the scoreboard reading 10 for 2 after Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar rocked West Zone’s top order, Gaikwad absorbed the initial pressure before counter-attacking in style.
Photo: IANS
Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a stunning exhibition of batting to steer West Zone out of early danger and into a position of strength on the opening day of the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone at the BCCI COE Ground 2 in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Coming in with the scoreboard reading 10 for 2 after Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar rocked West Zone’s top order, Gaikwad absorbed the initial pressure before counter-attacking in style. His commanding 184 off 206 deliveries, laced with 25 fours and a six, turned the momentum firmly in West Zone’s favour.
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He first combined with Aarya Desai (39) in a vital 82-run stand for the third wicket, steadying the innings after the double blow. Later, he forged a game-changing partnership of 148 with Tanush Kotian for the sixth wicket. At stumps, Kotian was holding firm on 65 not out alongside Shardul Thakur (24*), with West Zone finishing the day strongly at 363 for 6 in 87 overs.
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Earlier, West Zone’s decision to bat first seemed questionable when Khaleel struck in his opening spell, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal for four, before Chahar had Harvik Desai caught in the slips. Gaikwad and Aarya Desai took their time to rebuild, but Desai’s promising knock ended on 39 when Harsh Dubey’s pace breached his defence.
Gaikwad carried on, bringing up a fluent fifty from 72 balls before shifting gears. After the interval, Khaleel returned to shatter Shreyas Iyer’s stumps for 25, and Saransh Jain had Shams Mulani stumped to deepen West Zone’s troubles. But Gaikwad remained unfazed, raising his eighth first-class hundred in 131 deliveries and racing to 150 off 178.
Once Kotian registered his 17th half-century, West Zone had firmly regained control. Gaikwad’s magnificent knock finally ended when Saransh had him stumped, but the Kotian–Thakur partnership ensured there was no further damage.
With plenty of batting still to come, West Zone will resume Day Two, aiming to press home their advantage and put Central Zone under significant pressure.
Brief Scores: West Zone 363/6 in 87 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 184, Tanush Kotian 65*; Khaleel Ahmed 2/70, Saransh Jain 2/109) vs Central Zone.
Jagadeesan stars for South Zone
After being put in to bat, South Zone enjoyed a productive opening day of their Duleep Trophy semi-final against North Zone, thanks to a commanding unbeaten century from Narayan Jagadeesan (148).
North Zone’s bowlers, who brought in Yudhvir Singh Charak and Anshul Kamboj for Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, lacked consistency and leaked 22 extras, including 13 no-balls.
South Zone’s openers provided a strong platform, reaching 79 without loss at lunch and extending their partnership to 103 before Tanmay Agarwal (43) was bowled by Nishant Sindhu. Jagadeesan then found support from Devdutt Padikkal (57), with the pair adding 123 for the second wicket. Although Padikkal fell before tea, Jagadeesan continued unfazed and brought up his century to keep South Zone in control.
North Zone could manage another wicket of Mohit Kale before bad light curtailed play after 81 overs. South Zone closed the day well-placed on 297/3, with Jagadeesan still at the crease and eyeing a big score on Day 2.
Brief Scores: South Zone 297/3 (Narayan Jagadeeasan 148*, Devdutt Padikkal 57; Nishant Sindhu 2-59, Anshul Kamboj 1-47) vs North Zone.
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