[WATCH] Duleep Trophy 2026: Rajat Patidar takes stunning backward running catch to dismiss Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

A sharp piece of fielding drew widespread attention during the Duleep Trophy 2026 first semi-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on September 1, 2026. Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar ran backwards from inside the 30-yard circle and held on to the catch, falling hard on the ground in the process, to dismiss East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the fourth innings of the match.

The ball came off the bowling of Yash Thakur on the last delivery of the 14th over of East Zone's second innings. Sooryavanshi had attempted to hit a six off that final ball, but the ball carried to big height and Patidar completed the catch cleanly before hitting the ground.

Sooryavanshi's contributions across the semi-final

The dismissal ended Sooryavanshi's second-innings contribution at 40 runs, which included three fours and two sixes. The 15-year-old had already produced a significant first-innings performance in this semi-final, scoring 92 off 81 balls to help keep East Zone in the contest. Central Zone eventually set East Zone a fourth-innings target of 159 runs.

Sooryavanshi had also contributed with the ball earlier in the tournament. In East Zone's quarter-final against North East Zone, the teenager dismissed Kishan Lyngdoh and Imliwati Lemtur in the same over, underlining his all-round value to the side.

Duleep Trophy 2026 context and what comes next

Central Zone entered this semi-final as defending Duleep Trophy champions. Patidar had led the side to the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy title, when Central Zone defeated South Zone by six wickets to claim their first title since 2014-15. Patidar captains the Central Zone side again in the 2026 edition, with Sooryavanshi serving as vice-captain of the East Zone squad.

The winner of this Central Zone versus East Zone semi-final will advance to the Duleep Trophy 2026 Final, scheduled for September 6, 2026. The other semi-final in the tournament features North Zone against South Zone, with the winner of that match also progressing to the final. In the other semi-final North Zone have a meagre lead with South Zone will look to dismiss them as quick as possible.