Duleep Trophy | Deshpande, Kotian put West Zone in control

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The 2026-27 Indian domestic cricket season opened to some lively action as first-rate four-wicket hauls from Tushar Deshpande (four for 57) and Tanush Kotian (four for 72) helped West Zone dismiss North Zone for 251 on day one of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Sunday.

After opting to bat, North lost openers Yash Dhull and Qamran Iqbal with only 45 on the board but Ayush Badoni (51, 57b, 6x4, 2x6) and Ayush Doseja (42, 110b, 4x4) combined for 72 confident runs. Badoni was indeed reprieved twice, but the Delhi batter impressed with his flicks, pulls and controlled hooks.

However, a middle-order collapse saw North slip from 117 for two to 161 for seven. Deshpande, operating with pace and verve, had Badoni caught behind before bowling Abdul Samad through the gate.

Kotian sent back Doseja and captain Kanhaiya Wadhawan, with the former caught at silly-point and the latter trapped leg-before on the back-foot. The Mumbai off-spinner also took two outstanding high catches, one running in from fine-leg to end Abid Mushtaq’s stay and the other off his own bowling to excise Arshdeep Singh.

If not for Anshul Kamboj’s 60 (52b, 5x4, 5x6), North would have been down in dumps, with the 25-year-old bringing up his entertaining half-century with a fierce six over mid-wicket off Kotian.

Teenaged sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, though, could not have similar impact as he was dismissed for a paltry eight (6b, 2x4) while opening for East Zone versus North East Zone on the adjacent ground. The 15-year-old hit his third ball to the mid-wicket fence and the fourth to the point boundary before pacer Bishworjit Konthoujam had the youngster caught at gully off the sixth.

However, Sudip Gharami (146, 185b, 25x4, 1x6) and Shahbaz Ahmed (100 batting, 137b, 9x4, 2x6) played with poise to carry East to a healthy 355 for six. Kumar Kushagra lent a steady hand too (55, 65b, 9x4), helping his side stabilise from 25 for two after being asked to bat.

Shahbaz and Gharami had a field day with the willow. | Photo Credit: J. Allen Egenuse

The scores: North Zone 251 in 66.5 overs (Ayush Doseja 42, Ayush Badoni 51, Anshul Kamboj 60, Tanush Kotian 4/72, Tushar Deshpande 4/57) vs. West Zone 31/2 in 10 overs; Toss: North.

East Zone 355/6 in 80 overs (Kumar Kushagra 55, Sudip Gharami 146, Shahbaz Ahmed 100 batting) vs. North East Zone; Toss: North East.

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