Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain shared 9 wickets between them to leave South Zone reeling in the Duleep Trophy 2025 Final. Follow full updates on PuneriPages.in.
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy 2025 Final turned into a nightmare for South Zone. Central Zone’s spin duo, Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain, ripped through the batting lineup like it was a practice session. Between them, they grabbed 9 wickets, bowling South Zone out for just 149 before lunch. One-sided? Pretty much. Advantage Central Zone.
Table of Contents
Kartikeya & Jain: The Wrecking Crew
First up, Kumar Kartikeya set the tone. The left-arm spinner bowled with real fire—tight lines, tricky angles, and that killer drift. He even knocked over South’s skipper Mohammed Azharuddeen, finishing with figures of 4/53. The way he kept the batters guessing, you could almost see the frustration on their faces.
Then came Saransh Jain to close the show. Calm, composed, and ruthless. He bagged 5/84, running through the middle and lower order like it was nothing. Once South Zone lost their top order, Jain made sure they never even thought about a comeback.
How It Fell Apart
South Zone never looked settled. A couple of early wickets, and suddenly the scoreboard read 47/3. By the time it slipped to 57/4, you could already sense where this was heading. The lower order? Non-existent. Jain finished them off in style, and by 149 all out, it was all but a perfect script for Central.
And remember—this is Bengaluru, on a pitch that should’ve been decent for batting. That makes the collapse even more painful.
Why This Is Big
The Duleep Trophy isn’t just another domestic game—it’s where future India caps often get noticed. A performance like this in the final means a lot more. Central Zone now holds not just the lead but also the mental edge. South Zone? They’re under serious pressure to bounce back, and quickly.
What’s Next
For Central Zone, the message is clear: pile on the runs, build a mountain, and shut the door.
For South Zone, it’s about pride and survival. Their batting in the second innings has to be top-notch if they even want to stay in the game.
Final Word
Day 1 belonged to Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain. Nine wickets between them, and South Zone left gasping. This final is still open, but Central Zone already has one hand on the trophy if they can back it up with the bat. South Zone’s fightback will decide if this turns into a classic—or just a one-sided affair.
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