Duleep Trophy 2025, SZ vs NZ: Jagadeesan, Gurjapneet shine as South Zone ready to defend title

South Zone dominated the Ankit Kumar-led North Zone on the basis of first innings lead in the first semi-final of the Duleep Trophy 2025 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Narayan Jagadeesan secured the Player of the Match award for his 197 and 52* in South's first and second innings, respectively.

Vasuki Koushik struck in the second over of the day to claim the big wicket of centurion Shubham Khajuria (128 off 252). Khajuria played down the wrong line and had his stumps rattled. Sahil Lotra (19 off 31) and Mayank Dagar (31 off 40) played briskly during their time in the middle. However, both of their defences were disturbed by Nidheesh in consecutive overs.

Auqib Nabi (10 off 24) was the last player to fall, as North handed a commanding 175-run lead to South. Gurjapneet Singh, who had picked up three wickets on the third day, finished off the innings with a four-wicket haul (4/96) to his name. Nabi edged one through to Jagadeesan, for whom it was the first and only breakthrough in the innings.

South's opening duo comprising Tanmay Agarwal and Jagadeesan took the lead past 200 by the time Lunch was called. Auqib, who had not taken a wicket in the 24 overs he bowled in South's first innings, broke through with the wicket of Tanmay. Jagadeesan, who recently earned an India A call-up against the upcoming series against Australia A, struck six boundaries in his first 60 balls.

The match was mutually declared by both sides after Jagadeesan got to his half-century. He ended up unbeaten on 52 off 69. Devdutt Padikkal, on the other end, scored only one boundary in his 54-ball stay to score 16 runs. It was a disappointing outing for Yudhvir Singh, who ended up as the most expensive bowler for North across both innings (0/95 in 24 overs and 0/27 in 5 overs).