Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar dismissed Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar during the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final. The 32-year-old seamer produced the breakthrough during the morning session as East Zone’s bowlers dominated the early stages in Bengaluru on Sunday, August 30.
East Zone captain Ishan Kishan won the toss and opted to field first in the knockout fixture at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1. Central Zone lost early wickets and found themselves under pressure, but Rinku Singh and Harsh Dubey steadied the innings with a 53-run stand in the afternoon session.
Mukesh Kumar Castles Rajat Patidar in Bizarre Fashion
Mukesh Kumar claimed his first wicket of the match by dismissing Rajat Patidar on the fifth ball of the 27th over. The Central Zone captain was looking to build a partnership after his team lost two early wickets against the East Zone attack.
Mukesh bowled a short delivery, and Patidar attempted a half-hearted pull. However, he only managed a bottom edge. The ball bounced once on the pitch before spinning back and hitting the stumps. Patidar was stunned by the unusual dismissal.
Patidar scored 12 runs off 41 balls, including one four. His dismissal ended a 27-run partnership with Aryan Juyal and left Central Zone at 63/3 after 26.5 overs.
Watch Rajat Patidar's dismissal video below:
Rajat Patidar gone...
— IMRAN (@Rustomimran2) August 30, 2026
Mukesh Kumar strikes. #DuleepTrophy pic.twitter.com/3hxSEzOYRI
Abhijit K Sarkar and Mohammed Shami Trouble Central Zone
East Zone made an impressive start after captain Ishan Kishan won the toss and chose to field. Openers Aman Mokhade and Aryan Juyal added 28 runs off 52 balls. Abhijit K Sarkar dismissed Mokhade for eight off 29 balls in the ninth over.
Sarkar then struck again to remove Kunal Chandela for six off 13 balls. Juyal and Rajat Patidar tried to rebuild the innings and put together a 27-run partnership before Mukesh ended Patidar's stay.
Mukesh later provided another breakthrough by dismissing Juyal for 46. A review called by stand-in captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi confirmed that Juyal had edged the delivery. Ishan Kishan then returned to the field and resumed the captaincy duties.
Mohammed Shami dismissed Yash Rathod for 14. Shami bowled from around the wicket and repeatedly tested the left-hander's outside edge before Rathod edged one behind to wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra. Central Zone were reduced to 125/5.
Rinku Singh and Harsh Dubey Lead Central Zone Fightback
Rinku Singh and Harsh Dubey then took charge and helped Central Zone recover from their difficult position. The pair put together an unbeaten 53-run partnership and shifted the momentum back towards their team.
Rinku attacked the East Zone spinners whenever they bowled in his hitting areas. Harsh also played confidently against spin. Kounain Quraishi and Anukul Roy struggled to contain the left-handed duo.
Rinku reached 40 not out, while Harsh remained unbeaten on 26 at the tea break. The two batters will look to continue their partnership and take Central Zone towards a competitive first-innings total.
Meanwhile, North Zone is facing South Zone in the second semi-final. North Zone reached 122/4 after 38 overs, with Qamran Iqbal scoring 44 off 121 balls and Kanhaiya Wadhawan unbeaten on 13. Md Nidheesh, Kavuri Saiteja, Shreyas Gopal and Tanay Thyagarajan took one wicket each for South Zone.
