Duleep Trophy: Kotian, Deshpande bowl North Zone out for 251

North Zone vs West Zone

On the day Saransh Jain was handed a Test cap in Colombo, another offspinning all-rounder knocking on the national team's doors, Tanush Kotian, produced a fine performance of his own to begin the 2026-27 domestic season. Kotian returned 4 for 72 and combined excellently with Tushar Deshpande, who also took a four-fer (4 for 57), as West Zone bowled North Zone out for 251 on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru.

North's decision to bat on a dry-looking pitch with some assistance and under slightly overcast conditions was undone as Shardul Thakur struck early to dismiss Yash Dhull. Qamran Iqbal struck three boundaries before Deshpande trapped him LBW with a full ball. North stabilized in the remainder of the opening session through Ayush Doseja and Ayush Badoni; the latter survived a couple of dropped chances to make a brisk half-century.

West hit back in the second session when Badoni chased a wide ball from Deshpande and fell for 51. Kotian then sprung into action and had Ayush Doseja caught excellently at silly point. Kotian also had skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan LBW and then completed an excellent catch off his own bowling to settle under a skier from Arshdeep Singh. North were teetering at 209 for 8, but an enterprising cameo from Anshul Kamboj ensued as he struck five sixes (two off Kotian) and brought up a 48-ball 50. He was eventually dismissed by Kotian for 60, but not before giving the total some heft. North rode on that late momentum and struck twice to dismiss Prithvi Shaw and Harvik Desai before Stumps.

Brief scores: North Zone 251 (Anshul Kamboj 60, Ayush Badoni 51; Tanush Kotian 4-72, Tushar Deshpande 4-57) lead West Zone 31/2 (Abid Mushtaq 1-5) by 220 runs.

East Zone vs North East Zone

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lasted only six balls on his return to red-ball action, but his East Zone side still finished the opening day of their clash against North East at a strong 355 for 6, courtesy centuries from Sudip Kumar Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed. North East, who opted to bowl, made most of the early running when Bishworjit Konthoujam and Pheiroijam Jotin struck to dismiss Sooryavanshi and Abhimanyu Easwaran respectively, leaving East Zone two down for 25.

Kumar Kushagra then dominated a 92-run stand with Gharami, hitting nine fours in a knock of 55. North East then struck in quick succession to remove Virat Singh and captain Ishan Kishan, leaving East at 138 for 5. That brought Shahbaz together with Gharami, and the two batters proceeded to take the North East attack to the cleaners. Gharami hit 25 fours in his knock of 146 before Jotin got him LBW for his third wicket. Shahbaz proceeded to stitch another 67-run stand with Anukul Roy, completing his century before the end of the day's play.

Brief scores: East Zone 355/6 (Sudip Gharami 146, Shahbaz Ahmed 100*; Pheiroijam Jotin 3-53) vs North East Zone.