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Duleep Trophy: Andre Siddarth stood firm with an unbeaten 84, helping South Zone reach 426 and avoid an innings defeat, but Central Zone still need just 64 runs with all wickets in hand to win the title.

Washington Sundar is gearing up for the upcoming home Test series. He played a TNCA one-dayer after a break. Sundar will join Hampshire for a County stint. This stint aims to get him back into red-ball mode. His coach believes this will help him regain momentum. Hampshire is counting on his contributions for key games.

Rajat Patidar's stunning diving catch highlighted Central Zone's dominant performance on day one of the Duleep Trophy final. They bowled South Zone out for a mere 149, with Saransh Jain claiming 5 for 49 and Kumar Kartikeya taking 4. Central Zone openers then reached 50 without loss, trailing by just 99 runs.

South Zone has announced their squad for the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone, led by Mohammed Azharuddeen and Ricky Bhui. Andrew Siddarth and Smaran Ravichandran replace Jagadeesan and Padikkal, who are now with India A. South Zone aims to maintain their momentum, relying on Azharuddeen and Bhui to lead the batting against a strong Central Zone.

Shreyas Iyer will captain the 15-member India A squad for two matches against Australia A in Lucknow, starting September 16, announced BCCI on Saturday. Despite strong Duleep Trophy performances, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar were surprisingly omitted. KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj are slated to join the squad for the second game, replacing two players from the initial lineup.

Narayan Jagadeesan's near double century helps South Zone build a huge total against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinals. The day saw strong batting performances and a tight contest as Central Zone began their reply to West Zone's big score.

Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to showcase his class in red-ball cricket after his stellar 184-run knock in the Duleep Trophy semis against Central Zone. His knock propelled the West Zone to put a fighting first-innings total.

Indian cricketers including Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma have successfully cleared the pre-season fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

Arshdeep Singh, after an unfortunate injury during the England Test series, showcased his readiness in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. Despite not playing, he utilised his time in England to hone his skills, focusing on strength and conditioning.

Arshdeep Singh showcased his all-round abilities in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, smashing two sixes in a cameo and later impressing with the ball. Aquib Nabi's hat-trick helped North Zone dominate East Zone, securing a substantial first-innings lead. Arshdeep's performance, after recovering from a thumb injury, will boost India's confidence ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.

India's Test skipper Shubman Gill has reached BCCI Centre of Excellence for fitness checks ahead of Asia Cup 2025. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur too are set to arrive at CoE for the mandatory pre-season assessment.

Shubman Gill, recovering from a viral flu, is expected to arrive in Bengaluru to begin Asia Cup preparations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will undergo assessment and training due to unsuitable facilities near his home, and is likely to depart for Dubai from Bengaluru, joining other squad members.

Approaching 35, Mohammed Shami, despite subtle hints to retire, remains determined, eyeing the 2027 World Cup. In a Duleep Trophy match, his first red-ball game since November 2024, Shami focused on accuracy over speed, testing his body after injury. He bowled 17 overs, finding success in his third spell and eventually claiming a wicket late in the day.

In the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal, East Zone restricted North Zone to 308/6, highlighted by Mohammed Shami's return to First-Class cricket after a hiatus. Shami, initially rusty, improved his rhythm, taking 1/55. Young spinner Manishi's key strikes and Ayush Badoni's quickfire 63 also stood out.

Central Zone dominated the first day of the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, reaching 432 for 2 against North East Zone. Danish Malewar remained unbeaten on 198, while Rajat Patidar contributed a rapid 125. Their impressive partnership helped Central Zone build a strong foundation, with Malewar nearing a double century.

Indian cricket fans expressed disappointment as the Duleep Trophy, a premier domestic tournament featuring stars like Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav, lacked live streaming. This edition marks a return to the zonal format and serves as a trial for the 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule.

Central Zone captain Dhruv Jurel and East Zone skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran are not playing the opening round of their respective Duleep Trophy matches in Bengaluru. In Jurel's absence, Rajat Patidar is leading Central Zone and Riyan Parag is leading East Zone.

Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten 109 propelled Mumbai against Haryana in the Buchi Babu Tournament, rescuing them from an early collapse. This century follows his earlier 138 against TNCA XI, solidifying his form ahead of the Test season.

The 2025–26 domestic season begins with the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, a tournament doubling as auditions for vacancy in India's Test line-up. With questions over No. 3, No. 6 and pace depth, batters like Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfraz Khan, along with bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, aim to impress selectors ahead of home Test series against West Indies and South Africa.

The Indian home cricket season of 2025-26 starts with the Duleep Trophy. The tournament begins on August 28. It ends on September 15. The zonal format returns with North, South, East, West, Central, and North East zones competing. Matches will occur at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. South Zone and West Zone enter directly into the semi-finals.