Rajat Patidar Retained as Central Zone Captain for 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, Rinku Singh Named Vice-Captain
Rajat Patidar will captain Central Zone in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh as vice-captain and the team entering directly into the semi-finals.
India batter Rajat Patidar will continue to lead Central Zone in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy after being retained as captain of the 15-member squad. The tournament will be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10.
Central Zone enters the competition as the defending champion and has earned direct entry into the semi-finals, which begin on August 30. India middle-order batter Rinku Singh has been appointed as the team’s vice-captain.
Patidar enjoyed a memorable campaign in the previous edition, guiding Central Zone to the Duleep Trophy title. He also finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 382 runs, playing a key role in the team’s success.
The 32-year-old has also built an impressive captaincy record in recent seasons. Under his leadership, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026, adding to his growing reputation as a leader across formats.
The squad includes wicketkeepers Aryan Juyal and Kunal Singh Rathod. The batting unit features Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Ayush Pandey and Yash Rathod alongside Patidar and Rinku Singh.
The all-round department is led by Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey, while leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari adds another spin option. The pace attack includes Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute.
One change in availability could affect Central Zone early in the tournament. Off-spinner Saransh Jain is expected to miss the opening phase after being selected in India’s Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.
With an experienced captain, a balanced squad and a direct place in the semi-finals, Central Zone will be aiming to defend its Duleep Trophy crown successfully.
Central Zone Squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal, Kunal Singh Rathod, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Saransh Jain, Harsh Dubey, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute.
