Duleep Trophy 2025 Final: Saransh Jain’s five-for puts Central Zone on top in Bengaluru

A five-wicket haul rarely tilts a final this early, but Saransh Jain managed exactly that in Bengaluru. His relentless spell ripped through South Zone, and by stumps on Day 2, Central Zone had both the scoreboard and the mood of the match firmly in their corner.

Central seize control after Jain’s burst

This is the kind of performance teams dream of in the Duleep Trophy 2025 final. Central Zone’s bowlers set the tone right away, and Jain led the charge with a sharp five-for that knocked South Zone over for just 149. He kept a tight line, varied his pace, and forced errors with smart lengths. The support cast held their catches and squeezed the singles. That total gave Central a platform, and they took it.

The reply was composed and ruthless. Central’s top and middle order soaked up the hard balls, then cashed in when the bowlers missed their marks. The score surged past 300 with minimal fuss, and at one stage they were 327 for 5—evidence of a batting unit that didn’t rush, didn’t panic, and punished anything loose. The strike rotation was calm; the boundary options were picked, not forced.

There were moments of swagger too. Yash Rathod lit up the evening with a clean hit off Ankit Sharma, launching a massive six over wide long-on. It didn’t just add runs—it sent a message that Central had room to be positive. Further down, Jain kept contributing. His 25 off 61 balls—with two crisp boundaries—felt like a bonus that stretched the lead and deepened South Zone’s frustration.

South Zone tried different looks. Ricky Bhui rolled his arm over for 13 overs and went for 54 without a breakthrough, while Ankit Sharma was targeted whenever he missed his length. The outfield quickened under lights, and with the ball skidding on, the batters picked gaps and kept the board ticking. Field settings grew more defensive, but the boundaries didn’t dry up.

By the close, Central’s lead stood at 235. That’s a huge number in a final where the surface is starting to show signs of wear and the pressure of the occasion is real. Expect Central to bat a bit more on Day 3—extend it beyond 350, maybe even nudge 400—before handing the ball back to their bowlers for a full-scale push.

• South Zone 1st innings: 149 all out
• Central Zone: moved past 300; 327/5 at one stage
• Lead at stumps Day 2: 235
• Saransh Jain: five wickets; 25 (61) with 2 fours
• Ricky Bhui: 13-0-54-0

What South Zone must do to fight back

There’s no mystery about the task in front of South Zone. Their new opening pair, Mohit Kale and Tanmay Agarwal, have to soak up the new ball and survive the early burst. The first hour will be loud—fresh ball, attacking fields, bowlers smelling a result. If they can deny early wickets, the game stretches and the pressure slides back toward Central.

Tactically, South Zone need patience and clarity. They can’t chase the lead in one session. Batting time is the only currency that matters. Singles into the square pockets, calm leaves outside off, and discipline against the short ball—those are the basics that can rebuild an innings. A couple of sturdy partnerships will be worth more than any solo counterattack.

Conditions will play a role. The morning could offer seam movement; the twilight period under floodlights tends to bring the ball onto the bat quicker but can also keep slips interested if there’s just a hint of swing. Central will rotate their quicks in short, hostile spells before turning to their spinners to attack footmarks. Expect catchers around the bat if the surface grips.

From Central’s side, the plan is simple: bat in bursts, keep wickets in hand, and set a target that feels like a mountain. Once they declare, they’ll aim for control through relentless lines, sharp ground fielding, and close-in catchers. Jain’s confidence is sky-high; if he finds rhythm again, every over becomes a mini-event.

Keep an eye on a few things when play resumes at 9:30 AM IST (4:00 AM GMT):

• How long Central bat—do they stretch the lead to 350-plus or push deeper?
• South Zone’s first 20 overs—can Kale and Agarwal see off the new ball?
• Field placements—will Central choke singles or hunt for edges with packed slips?
• Dew and grip—does the ball skid in the evening, or do spinners find bite?

South Zone are still in it if they bat long and cut the deficit steadily. Central Zone, though, have earned the right to dictate terms. With a big lead in the bank and a bowling unit in form, they start Day 3 with every card they wanted.