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 in Bengaluru 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, 6×4, 2×6) and Ayush Doseja (42, 110b, 4×4) 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 – from 117 for two to 161 for seven – thwarted North. Deshpande, bowling with pace and verve, had Badoni caught behind before bowling Abdul Samad through the gate.
Kotian then 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, 5×4, 5×6), 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.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, though, could not have a similar impact, as he was dismissed for a paltry eight (6b, 2×4) while opening for East Zone versus North East on the adjacent ground.
A disappointed Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated in the dugout after his early dismissal.
| Photo Credit:
ALLEN EGENUSE J
A disappointed Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated in the dugout after his early dismissal.
| Photo Credit:
ALLEN EGENUSE J
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, 25×4, 1×6) and Shahbaz Ahmed (100 batting, 137b, 9×4, 2×6) played with poise to carry East to a healthy 355 for six. Kumar Kushagra lent a steady hand too (55, 65b, 9×4), helping his side stabilise from 25 for two after being asked to bat.
BRIEF 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 for two in 10 overs; Toss: North.
East Zone 355 for six in 80 overs (Kumar Kushagra 55, Sudip Gharami 146, Shahbaz Ahmed 100 batting) vs. North East Zone; Toss: North East.
Published on Aug 23, 2026
