Duleep Trophy 2025: Malewar, Patidar Shine as Fans Outraged
The Duleep Trophy 2025 has kicked off with a bang, returning to its traditional zonal format and immediately delivering on its promise of high-stakes, competitive cricket. On Day 1, Central Zone's Danish Malewar and Rajat Patidar showcased their class with impressive centuries, reminding selectors of their immense talent. While the action on the field has been captivating, it has also been overshadowed by a furious backlash from cricket fans. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing widespread condemnation for its decision not to provide any live telecast or streaming of the tournament's crucial quarter-final matches.
On-Field Brilliance: Malewar and Patidar's Centuries
The Duleep Trophy, which serves as a critical proving ground for India's domestic stars, began with two quarter-final matches at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The most eye-catching performance came from Central Zone's batsmen, who dominated the North East Zone bowlers.
Leading the charge was Danish Malewar, who played a masterful innings, scoring a brilliant century. His confident stroke play and ability to handle the pressure in a crucial match cemented his status as a player to watch this season. Malewar's century was a testament to his form and technique, and he is a strong contender to be among the tournament's leading run-scorers.
Joining him in the century-makers list was none other than Rajat Patidar. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper, who was recently in the news for his controversial omission from the Asia Cup squad, silenced his critics with a well-composed century. Stepping up to lead the Central Zone team in the absence of the injured Dhruv Jurel, Patidar showcased his leadership skills and his ability to convert starts into big scores in red-ball cricket. His knock is a timely reminder to the national selectors of his caliber and a strong statement about his form and fitness. His performance will be a major confidence booster as he aims to make a comeback to the Indian team.
Fans' Fury: The Absence of Live Coverage
Despite the incredible action on the field, the mood among cricket fans has been one of outrage and disappointment. The BCCI, often criticized for its handling of domestic cricket, is facing severe backlash for its decision not to provide any live telecast or streaming of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinals. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), fans are expressing their frustration using hashtags like #DuleepTrophy and #BCcI.
The fan outrage stems from a few key points:
- Talent on Display: The Duleep Trophy is a platform for India's next generation of Test cricketers. With players like Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer participating, the tournament is a vital watch for any cricket enthusiast. The lack of live coverage means fans are missing out on watching these top-tier domestic players in action.
- Hypocrisy from BCCI: Many fans are questioning the BCCI's commitment to promoting domestic cricket. They point out the irony that the world's richest cricket board cannot even manage to broadcast one of its most prestigious domestic tournaments. As one user on social media put it, "Even gully cricket matches are streamed live these days."
- Disrespect to Players and Fans: The decision is seen as disrespectful to the players who work hard to perform at the highest level of domestic cricket. It also disenfranchises fans who want to follow the progress of their favorite players and watch competitive red-ball cricket. Without live coverage, fans are forced to rely on sporadic score updates, which is a poor substitute for a full viewing experience.
The Zonal Format and What It Means
This edition of the Duleep Trophy marks a return to the traditional zonal format, a move that has been widely welcomed by both players and pundits. The format, which pits six teams—North, South, East, West, Central, and North East Zones—against each other, revives old rivalries and adds a new layer of competition.
The tournament is seen as a crucial audition for fringe players and those on the cusp of national selection. With a packed international schedule for the Indian team, including a busy home season and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2026, a strong performance in the Duleep Trophy can significantly boost a player's chances of getting a national call-up. Players like Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan, who are all looking to get back into the Test team, have a huge opportunity to make a case for themselves.
In conclusion, while the Duleep Trophy 2025 has started with some exceptional performances from players like Danish Malewar and Rajat Patidar, the tournament is being marred by the BCCI's controversial decision to not provide live coverage. This has left fans feeling frustrated and angry, and it raises serious questions about the board's commitment to domestic cricket. The players, on the other hand, will be hoping that their performances will speak for themselves and that they will be able to make their mark on the selectors, even if fans are unable to witness their brilliance live
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