Live blog - Gaikwad 184, Kotian unbeaten fifty drive West Zone

A Ruturaj Gaikwad masterclass helped resurrect West Zone's batting on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2025-26 semi-final, taking them to a position of strength. Gaikwad came into bat at 10 for 2 with Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar moving the ball hoops. He took his time in settling down, and then ticked along once the sun came out.

Gaikwad finished on 184 off 206 balls, with 25 fours and a six. He got good support from Aarya Desai and then Tanush Kotian, with whom he stitched a 148-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Things might have been different if not for Gaikwad's ton. Khaleel trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw three balls into the day. Harvik Desai was caught at first slip off Chahar while Shreyas Iyer's middle stump was flattened by Khaleel for 25. But Gaikwad stood firm and took West Zone to safer shores. He reached his fifty in 85 balls, century in 131 balls and his 150 off 178 balls.

At the end of the opening day, West Zone had Kotian unbeaten on 65, while Thakur was 24 not out.

Thakur has a slice of luck when he gets a thick off Saransh Jain, which just flies past the 'keeper's right. Things have slowed down since Gaikwad's dismissal, but that's also because stumps are approaching.

Right after Tanush Kotian raises his 17th first-class half-century, Gaikwad's epic knock comes to an end. He jumps down the track to Saransh Jain, who sees him and shortens his length. Gaikwad gets beaten in flight and is stumped. Throws his head back as he walks off but this has been a gem of a knock from Gaikwad. He came in when West Zone were in all sorts, with the ball moving hoops. He first calmed things down, then accelerated and took it to another level post-tea.

Gaikwad's 184 included 25 fours and one six as he walks back putting West Zone in a position of strength. His wicket ended a 148-run stand with Kotian, who is unbeaten on 54. Captain Shardul Thakur comes next.

The ball is pinging off Gaikwad's blade as he smashes four fours and a six off a Khaleel Ahmed over to take him rushing past 150 off just 178 balls. There were two cover drives, one square cut and an upper cut that went all the way. He has come out with a lot of intent after the tea break and is taking on the fast bowlers. The next over, he goes after Yash Thakur and sends him screeching through the covers.

Tanush Kotian is also stroking the ball really well and is inching towards fifty, while Gaikwad is in his 170s.

Gaikwad has started the third session with three fours in an over off Yash Thakur - two crunching straight drives and one fortunate outside edge that flew to the right of the wicketkeeper. His partnership with Tanush Kotian is already worth 78. Central Zone have started with pace after tea, with Yash Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed operating in tandem.

West Zone 237 for 5 (Gaikwad 121*, Desai 39) vs Central Zone

It's been one-way traffic since the lunch break at the Central Zone-West Zone semi-final. Harsh Dubey got rid of Shams Mulani, but Ruturaj Gaikwad carried on and notched up his eighth first-class century. Tanush Kotian joined him in the middle and has rattled along nicely. He struck two straight fours off Saransh Jain, one of which crashed into the sight screen and damaged the ball.

With the sun beating down, bowling has been hard work after lunch and Gaikwad has looked solid. He goes into tea unbeaten on 121; he has added 66 runs in the second session alone. West Zone have, meanwhile, racked up 121 runs in the second session.

Eighth first-class century for Gaikwad. He rushes through the 90s with a fierce pull off Harsh Dubey and gets to his century with a drive through covers off Harsh Dubey. This has really been a solid knock from Gaikwad. He weathered the early storm when West Zone were 10 for 2, and then cashed in against the spinners.

Just 28 of 100 runs have come against the pacers. He made sure to be circumspect against the moving ball early and then attacked the spinners. Since the lunch break, Gaikwad has moved quickly. He was on 55 off 86 balls at lunch, and got to his century off 131 balls with 13 fours.

He gets beaten in the flight and has to walk back. Gives Harsh Dubey the charge too early, who shortens his length and has Mulani stumped for 18. Gaikwad has, meanwhile, stepped on the pedal after the break and is nearing his century. Tanush Kotian is next in.

It is the around-the-wicket angle that does Iyer in. Khaleel pulls his length back and gets the ball to deck back in. Iyer stands tall and looks for a late cut, but is done in by the angle. He can only manage a thick inside-edge with his middle stump going flop. He falls for 25 off 28 balls. There is a long check for a no-ball but Khaleel seems to be fine.

Shams Mulani has walked in next and he's started positively, particularly down the ground, where he's struck two fours. Gaikwad has, meanwhile, moved to 81. It's gone a bit quiet in the Central camp so Umesh Yadav walks behind and shouts, "thodi awaaz aane do bhai."

Righto, we are back after the break. Harsh Dubey to start the second session, while it is Iyer to take strike. He drives firmly on the up and along the turf to the right of cover to set things rolling after lunch. Khaleel has started his second spell from the other end, from around the wicket. He gets greeted by a wristy flick from Gaikwad through mid-on before Harsh Dubey gets pulled by Gaikwad the next over to the right of mid-on.

West Zone 116 for 3 (Gaikwad 55*, Desai 39*) vs Central Zone

Yashasvi Jaiswal fell just three balls into the Duleep Trophy semi-final as the Central Zone bowlers had West Zone in early trouble at 10 for 2. But Ruturaj Gaikwad and Aarya Desai held their own, initially weathering a lively Khaleel Ahmed-Deepak Chahar burst before cashing in against the spinners to take Central Zone to 116 for 3 at lunch on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final at Ground B of BCCI's Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru.

Under cloudy skies, Khaleel was clipped for a four through square leg first ball but he got his revenge two balls later when Jaiswal played all around a nip-backer to be trapped in front. Chahar then got into the act, having Harvik Desai caught at first slip. Gaikwad played and missed a few balls early and had a couple of lbw shouts but he looked solid and then got going against the spinners. Forty-three of Gaikwad's 55 runs have come against the spinners and he will look for a move on after lunch with the pitch now looking a belter.

Aarya Desai also looked compact during his 39, but misjudged an arm ball from Harsh Dubey and was bowled. Shreyas Iyer walked out at No. 5 and he's looked proactive from the get-go.

Rushes through the 40s with a couple of fours and reaches his fifty off 72 balls with a nudge to mid-off. He has really looked compact so far and will want to convert this into a big one.

A quicker one from Dubey and Desai's sprightly knock has come to an end on 39. Dubey got the ball to fizz off the surface, and Desai, who rocked back, looking for a pull, was beaten in the flight. The ball rushes past him and clatters into off stump. Timely wicket for Central as they break an 82-run third-wicket stand.

Shreyas Iyer walks in and has a lucky escape first up. He goes for a sweep, hits it towards deep square leg, where Khaleel is a few metres inside the rope. Had he been on the ropes, it could have been a catch.