Central Zone Eyes Duleep Trophy Glory Against Confident East

The Duleep Trophy semi-finals commence Sunday with Central Zone, seeking to retain their title, confronting East Zone in what promises to be a closely contested encounter. Central's bid for back-to-back championships comes as East arrives with considerable momentum, setting up an intriguing contest between experience and confidence.

Rajat Patidar has emerged as a key figure for Central Zone, with his performances instrumental to the defending champions' campaign so far. His form in the lead-up to the semi-final will be crucial as Central seeks to navigate past East's spirited challenge.

In the other semi-final fixture, South Zone—runners-up in the previous edition—will take on North Zone in a separate encounter that adds another layer of intrigue to the tournament's business end. South's experience from last season's runners-up finish positions them as strong contenders to reach the final.

The semi-finals represent a significant milestone in the Duleep Trophy calendar, with only two teams advancing to compete for the prestigious domestic trophy. Both matches will be closely watched by selectors monitoring performances ahead of upcoming national assignments.