West Zone skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has given his team a much-needed boost with a composed knock in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final against North Zone. Chasing 287, West Zone were under pressure after losing Prithvi Shaw and Harvik Desai early. Gaikwad then joined Musheer Khan and helped steady the innings. The captain looked comfortable on a difficult surface and played with patience. He kept the scoreboard moving while avoiding unnecessary risks. Gaikwad reached his fifty from 48 balls, giving West Zone some control in the chase. He has been unbeaten on 61 from 59 balls, with seven fours but zero sixes, as West Zone moved to 178/3. Musheer also played an important role at the other end. The pair helped West Zone recover after a shaky start. North Zone had earlier been bowled out for 251 in their first innings. West Zone then replied with 187, giving North a 64-run lead. North Zone scored 222 in their second innings, setting West Zone a target of 287.  

Gaikwad’s batting quickly became a talking point on X. Fans praised his calm approach and the way he handled the pressure of the chase. His partnership with Musheer also drew attention as West Zone began moving closer to the target. The innings was especially important after his low score in the first innings. With the captain finding his rhythm, West Zone looked far more comfortable in the chase. 

 

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Musheer Khan steady West Zone in Duleep Trophy chase against North Zone in quarter-finals match

West Zone are closing in on a tense chase against North Zone in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final in Bengaluru. North Zone posted 251 in their first innings before West Zone were bowled out for 187. That gave North a 64-run lead and put them in a strong position. North then added 222 in their second innings, setting West Zone a target of 287. West Zone began the chase carefully but lost three wickets before reaching 191. Ruturaj Gaikwad has played an important role in keeping the chase alive. He has scored 65 from 69 balls, while Musheer Khan remains unbeaten on 88 from 120 balls. The pair have helped West Zone recover after a difficult start. At the latest score, West Zone are 191/3 after 44 overs and need another 96 runs to win.

North Zone had earlier relied on Abid Mushtaq to create a strong advantage. The left-arm spinner took five wickets for 39 runs in West Zone’s first innings. Arshdeep Singh also picked up three wickets as West Zone struggled to build partnerships. North’s second innings then gave them another chance to put the game beyond West Zone’s reach. They were bowled out for 222, but the target remained challenging. West Zone now have seven wickets in hand and need 96 more runs. Gaikwad’s steady approach and Musheer’s unbeaten stay have given them hope. The match is finely placed, with North Zone still holding the advantage but West Zone firmly in the contest.