“Smaran & Tanmay Shine as South Zone Stumbles in Duleep Final”

Smaran & Tanmay Shine as South Zone Stumbles in Duleep Final

Indore, September 13, 2025 – The hallowed ground of the Holkar Cricket Stadium witnessed a dramatic and enthralling day of cricket as the Duleep Trophy final unfolded with an unexpected twist. While everyone anticipated a batting masterclass from the formidable South Zone lineup, it was the disciplined and relentless bowling attack of East Zone that stole the show. Their unsung heroes, right-arm pacer Smaran Bhatt and left-arm orthodox spinner Tanmay Sharma, put on a bowling clinic, sharing nine wickets between them to leave South Zone reeling at 215 all out. At stumps, East Zone's response was cautious yet steady, reaching 45 for 1, with a long way to go to gain a decisive first-innings lead.

The East Zone Bowling Masterclass: A Display of Clinical Precision

The morning session was a testament to the meticulous planning and execution by the East Zone’s captain, Pranav Singh. Opting to bowl first on a pitch that offered a hint of green, Pranav’s decision was vindicated almost immediately. The opening pair of Smaran Bhatt and Ayan Das bowled with unerring accuracy, rarely offering a loose delivery. Their primary goal was to contain the free-flowing South Zone openers, Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal, and force a mistake.

The breakthrough came in the 9th over, delivered by the impressive Smaran Bhatt. Bowling a probing line just outside off stump, he found a hint of movement to catch the outside edge of Mayank Agarwal's bat. The ball flew low to the third slip, where Akashdeep took a sharp, diving catch. Agarwal, who looked solid up until that point, was dismissed for a hard-fought 18. This wicket set the tone for the rest of the day. Smaran, with his smooth run-up and a natural ability to swing the ball away from the right-handers, consistently troubled the South Zone batsmen.

Following this, the introduction of spin brought even more trouble for South Zone. Pranav Singh's decision to bring on Tanmay Sharma early in the second session was a masterstroke. The left-arm spinner, who had a relatively quiet tournament until this final, came to life. He bowled with a tight loop and extracted significant turn from the surface, creating an aura of unpredictability. He first accounted for the ever-dangerous Devdutt Padikkal, who was looking to build a big innings. Padikkal, stepping out to a well-flighted delivery, was beaten in the air, and the ball went on to clean up his stumps. Padikkal was bowled for a well-made 42.

The momentum was now squarely with East Zone. The middle-order of South Zone, often their strength, crumbled under the dual pressure of Smaran's pace and Tanmay's spin. Siddhesh Lad was trapped lbw by a beautiful inswinging delivery from Smaran, and the experienced Karun Nair fell to Tanmay, caught at slip. The scorecard read a dismal 105 for 5, and the Duleep Trophy final was turning into a one-sided affair.

South Zone's Resilience: A Brief Comeback

Just when it seemed like South Zone was on the verge of a complete collapse, the lower-middle order showed some commendable resistance. The duo of Sarfaraz Khan and the young wicketkeeper-batsman Ricky Bhui stitched together a crucial partnership of 65 runs for the sixth wicket. Sarfaraz, known for his aggressive style, adapted his game to the situation, showing a great deal of maturity. He absorbed the pressure, rotating the strike effectively and punishing the occasional loose ball. Bhui, on the other hand, played a gritty, defensive game, providing the perfect foil. Their partnership gave South Zone a glimmer of hope and ensured they wouldn't be bowled out for an embarrassingly low total.

However, the tea break proved to be an unwanted interruption. Immediately after the resumption of play, the East Zone captain brought back his trump cards. Smaran Bhatt, bowling with renewed vigor, broke the partnership by getting Sarfaraz Khan to nick one to the wicketkeeper. Sarfaraz's valiant innings of 55 came to an end. It was the crucial wicket that opened the floodgates again for East Zone. Tanmay Sharma then returned to bamboozle the tail-enders, picking up the last three wickets in quick succession, including a sharp caught-and-bowled to dismiss the final batsman.

The final scorecard for South Zone read a disappointing 215 all out. The heroes of the day were undoubtedly Smaran Bhatt, who finished with a career-best figure of 5 for 68, and Tanmay Sharma, who ended with an equally impressive 4 for 52. Their combined effort was a perfect demonstration of how a well-balanced bowling attack, with a mix of pace and spin, can dominate on a challenging pitch.

East Zone's Cautious Response: A Test of Character

With the light fading and the pitch becoming slightly easier under the floodlights, East Zone's openers, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Raman, walked out to the center with a clear objective: to see off the new ball without losing a wicket. Their strategy was cautious, as they respected the South Zone pacers, T Natarajan and Basil Thampi, who were bowling with great intensity.

The South Zone bowlers, stung by their team’s poor batting performance, came out with a point to prove. They bowled with aggression and intent, trying to replicate the success of their East Zone counterparts. The left-arm pacer T Natarajan, with his ability to swing the ball late, troubled both openers. He was particularly effective against Shubman Gill, who had to be at his absolute best to survive.

However, the pressure finally paid off for South Zone. In the penultimate over of the day, Basil Thampi delivered a fiery bouncer that caught Abhishek Raman by surprise. The ball cramped him for room, and he could only manage to fend it to the third man, where the fielder took a comfortable catch. Raman was dismissed for a patient 22. His departure brought the East Zone skipper, Pranav Singh, to the crease. Alongside Shubman Gill, he saw off the remaining deliveries of the day, ensuring no further damage was done. At stumps, East Zone was 45 for 1, still trailing by 170 runs, with the match hanging delicately in the balance.

The Match in Perspective: A Tale of Two Bowling Attacks

The first day of the Duleep Trophy final was a classic example of a bowling duel. Both teams knew that the team that bowled better would have the advantage, and East Zone executed their plan to perfection. The contrast between the two bowling attacks was evident. While South Zone's bowlers tried hard and managed to get a breakthrough late in the day, they lacked the clinical precision and consistency that Smaran Bhatt and Tanmay Sharma brought to the table.

Smaran Bhatt’s performance, in particular, was a revelation. He exploited the conditions perfectly, hitting the right lengths and letting the pitch do the rest. His pace and ability to get the ball to move off the seam made him unplayable at times. Tanmay Sharma, on the other hand, was the perfect foil, using his spin to deceive the batsmen and break crucial partnerships. Their combined effort ensured that South Zone, for all their batting prowess, could not post a challenging total.

Going into Day 2, the pressure will be immense on both teams. For East Zone, the key will be for Shubman Gill and Pranav Singh to build a big partnership and establish a commanding lead. They have the batsmen to do it, but they will have to be wary of South Zone's experienced bowlers. For South Zone, the task is clear: they need to take quick wickets and restrict East Zone's lead. If they can get rid of Gill early on Day 2, the match could swing back in their favor.

The Duleep Trophy final has all the makings of a classic encounter. With Day 1 setting the stage for a compelling battle, cricket fans are in for a treat as the two teams vie for supremacy in this prestigious tournament.