Kotian and Deshpande Spin West Zone to Dominance Over North Zone on Duleep Trophy Day One
The 2026-27 domestic season opened with a bang at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as West Zone's spin duo of Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande combined to bundle North Zone out for 251 on the opening day of their Duleep Trophy clash.
On a day when Saransh Jain was handed a Test cap in Colombo, another offspinning all-rounder knocking on the national team's doors, Kotian, produced a fine performance of his own. Kotian returned 4 for 72 and combined excellently with Deshpande, who also claimed a four-fer (4 for 57), as West Zone made early inroads into the contest.
North Zone's decision to bat on a dry-looking pitch with some assistance and under slightly overcast conditions was undone early. Shardul Thakur struck first to dismiss Yash Dhull, before Qamran Iqbal struck three boundaries and was then trapped LBW by a full ball from Deshpande.
Badoni and Doseja stabilise before Kotian strikes
North Zone stabilised in the remainder of the opening session through Ayush Doseja and Ayush Badoni, with the latter surviving a couple of dropped chances to make a brisk half-century. West Zone hit back in the second session when Badoni chased a wide ball from Deshpande and fell for 51.
Kotian then sprung into action, having Doseja caught excellently at silly point. He followed up by trapping skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan LBW and then completed a fine catch off his own bowling, settling under a skier from Arshdeep Singh. North Zone were teetering at 209 for 8.
Kamboj's cameo provides late momentum
An enterprising cameo from Anshul Kamboj ensued as he struck five sixes — two off Kotian — and brought up a 48-ball fifty. He was eventually dismissed by Kotian for 60, but not before giving North Zone's total some much-needed heft.
Riding on that late momentum, North Zone struck twice before Stumps, dismissing Prithvi Shaw and Harvik Desai to leave West Zone at 31 for 2, trailing by 220 runs.
Brief scores: North Zone 251 (Anshul Kamboj 60, Ayush Badoni 51; Tanush Kotian 4-72, Tushar Deshpande 4-57) lead West Zone 31/2 (Abid Mushtaq 1-5) by 220 runs.