With scores of 3 for 53 and 1 for 40 throughout the course of the two innings, Arshdeep Singh produced a game-winning effort. North Zone’s victory guarantyd them a spot in the semi-final matchup with South Zone, which starts on Sunday, August 30.
In the Duleep Trophy 2026 quarterfinal, which took place at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 23 to 26, 2026, North Zone defeated West Zone by 52 runs.
After being away from red-ball cricket for nearly a year, Arshdeep Singh made a comeback. Despite playing in 18 ODIs and 91 T20Is for India, the left-arm bowler is yet to make his Test debut. He has taken 71 wickets at an average of 30.26 in 23 first-class games, including two five-wicket hauls that show his versatility in longer formats.
Arshdeep Singh told the Indian Express, “I mean, the message is to perform wherever you get a chance and just keep delivering, and you will get your chance when the time is right.”
Team management’s message on test selection
The pacer’s remarks mirrored the direction Indian team management had given him in terms of his route to Test selection. Since Jaydev Unadkat, India has not fielded a left-arm pacer in Test matches, leaving a glaring gap in the squad’s makeup. The management of the club has expressed interest in creating alternatives for this role.
Arshdeep Singh impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal showed that he is prepared to fight for a spot in the Test team when the chance presents itself. His domestic performance has strengthened his position as a legitimate candidate for the top spot in red-ball cricket.
Regarding the second quarterfinal, North Zone dismissed West Zone for 187 after scoring 251 in their first innings. North Zone, headed by Kanhaiya Wadhawan, was knocked out for 22 in their second innings.
In the fourth inning, West Zone needed 287 runs to prevail. But before getting bowled out, they were only able to reach 234. After taking nine wickets and scoring 23 runs in the two innings, Abid Mushtaq was named Player of the Match.
