Young Central Zone batter Danish Malewar and skipper Rajat Patidar put the team in a commanding position against the North East Zone in the quarterfinals of the Duleep Trophy 2025, with breezy centuries at the BCCI CEG Ground B in Bengaluru.
Patidar, who coached Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title earlier this year, scored a century off just 80 balls, before being dismissed eventually for 125 off just 96 balls with 21 fours and three sixes. The 32-year-old was part of the Test team in 2024 against England, but was dropped subsequently. A fruitful domestic season in red-ball cricket will help Patidar stake claim for a berth in the Indian Test team.
Central Zone reached 432/2 in 77 overs, before bad light forced early stumps on day one. Malewar continued his exploits despite Patidar’s exit, remaining unbeaten on 198 at the end of the day’s play. Yash Rathod was keeping him company at the crease on 32 not out.
It is only the 10 first-class match for Malewar, but he has already scored 783 runs in nine games so far, at an average of 52.20. At the cusp of a double hundred, the 21-year-old Vidarbha top-order batter has been in a rich vein of form, scoring a crentury and three half centuries in his past five innings.
