Rajat Patidar will lead the Central Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh as vice-captain, as the team aims to defend its title.

Context

The Duleep Trophy is a first-class cricket tournament in India, featuring regional teams competing for the championship.S2

Key points

• Rajat Patidar has been retained as captain of the Central Zone squad.S2

• Rinku Singh has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.S2

• The Central Zone is the defending champion, having won the title in the previous edition.S2

• The tournament is set to begin at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.S2

• Recent India debutants Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur are included in the squad.S1

• Saransh Jain, also selected for the Sri Lanka Tests, is part of the team.S1

• The Central Zone secured its seventh title by defeating South Zone in the last final.S2

• The Duleep Trophy features regional teams from across India competing annually.S2

Why it matters

• The leadership of Patidar and Singh could influence the team's performance in the tournament.S2

• Defending the title adds pressure and expectations on the Central Zone squad.S2

What to watch

• Monitor the performance of new players like Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur in the tournament.S1

• Watch for any updates on the team's preparation leading up to the Duleep Trophy.S2