Shahbaz Ahmed: The All-Round Hero
Shahbaz Ahmed was undoubtedly the star of the quarter-finals, delivering a phenomenal all-round performance for East Zone. Playing against North East Zone, he first rescued his team with the bat, scoring a career-best 167. Coming in when East Zone were
in a spot of bother, his innings was a blend of patience and aggression, featuring 17 fours and four sixes. This monumental effort propelled his team to a massive total of 467. But he wasn't done yet. With his left-arm spin, Shahbaz was a constant threat, picking up three wickets for just 20 runs in the first innings and adding another in the second. His masterclass with both bat and ball was the cornerstone of East Zone's innings-and-210-run victory, earning him a well-deserved Player of the Match award. For a player on the fringes of the Indian team, it was a loud and clear statement of intent.
Ishan Kishan: Sharp Behind the Stumps, Quiet With the Bat
East Zone captain Ishan Kishan had a mixed outing. With the bat, he had a game to forget, being dismissed for just 4 runs in the first innings as his team faced an early wobble. However, he more than made up for it with his exceptional work behind the stumps. Throughout the match, Kishan was brilliant with the gloves, highlighted by five dismissals in North East Zone's second innings, comprising four catches and a stumping. One stumping, in particular, caught everyone's attention, where he stood up to pacer Abhijit K Sarkar, fumbled initially but recovered with lightning speed to whip off the bails, drawing comparisons to MS Dhoni. While his batting was a let-down, his sharp wicketkeeping and astute captaincy played a crucial role in East Zone's dominant progression to the semi-finals.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: A Disappointing Outing for the Captain
For West Zone skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, the quarter-final against North Zone was a struggle. Tasked with chasing North Zone's first-innings total of 251, Gaikwad couldn't make an impact. He was dismissed for just 5 runs off 18 balls, trapped LBW by left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq. The dismissal highlighted a period of tentative play, a stark contrast to his usual fluent style. His failure was part of a larger top-order collapse that saw West Zone concede a crucial first-innings lead. Although he found some form with a fluent 66 in the second innings chase, his initial failure put his team on the back foot. For a player looking to cement his place in the national conversation, especially in red-ball cricket, it was a missed opportunity to lead from the front.
Prithvi Shaw: A Flash of Brilliance, but Another False Start
Prithvi Shaw’s return to the Duleep Trophy started with familiar promise but ended in disappointment. Opening for West Zone, he came out with his trademark aggressive intent, hitting four boundaries in a quickfire 22 off 21 balls. He looked in great touch, taking the attack to the North Zone bowlers. However, his innings was cut short by a brilliant delivery from spinner Abid Mushtaq, which spun sharply to bowl him. It was a classic Shaw innings in many ways: full of exciting shots but ultimately brief. The dismissal was an early blow for West Zone in their first innings. For Shaw, who is constantly under the scanner for his consistency, this was another frustrating start where he couldn't convert his talent into a substantial score.
