Credit: BCCI
On September 25, 2022, West Zone beat South Zone in the final of the Duleep Trophy 2022, played in Coimbatore. Winning the toss, West Zone skipper Ajinkya Rahane elected to bat first. West Zone lost their top-order batters within the initial six overs of the match. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Skipper Rahane, and Priyank Panchal went back to the dugout with their single-digit scores. In the crunch situation, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan stood at the crease and built a 48-run stand. Iyer fell against Sai Kishore and departed after chipping in with his 37 off 63. Sai also got the better of Sarfaraz, who hoarded 34 runs off 117 balls.
Riding on wicketkeeper-batter Het Patel’s 98 (189) and Jaydev Unadkat’s 47* (73), West Zone reached a total of 270. Sai Kishore grabbed a fifer for South Zone. Following the score, South Zone posted a total of 327 runs. Baba Indrajith notched up 118 off 125 and helped his side claim a 47-run lead after the first innings. Unadkat looked confident with the ball and registered 4/52 figures in his 19 overs. In the second innings, West Zone’s batting attack looked relentless and erected a total of 585/4. Yashasvi Jaiswal racked up 265 (323) while captain Iyer scored 71 runs off 113 balls. Sarfaraz and Patel also scored an unbeaten 127* (158) and 51* (61) respectively.
South Zone capitulated on 234 while chasing the mammoth target
Defending the total of 529, West Zone’s bowling-unit looked extraordinary and bundled out South Zone on 234. Except for opener Rohan Kunnunmmal (93 off 100) and Ravi Teja (53 off 97), no other batter looked disciplined. Shams Mulani looked magnificent with the ball and claimed 4/51 figures in 18 overs.
Atit Sheth and Unadkat also got two wickets apiece. Chintan Gaja and Tanush Kotian also bagged one wicket respectively. West Zone clinched a 294-run win and Jaiswal became the Player of the Match for his brilliant 265. It was Wes Zone’s first Duleep Trophy title win after 2009.
