Duleep Trophy Quarter-Final: Aquib Nabi’s Hat-Trick Stuns East Zone as North Tightens Grip; Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana Impress

The Duleep Trophy 2025 quarter-final has witnessed a remarkable turnaround with Aquib Nabi producing a sensational hat-trick that handed North Zone a commanding advantage over East Zone. On a day dominated by fiery pace and relentless pressure, North’s bowlers—led by Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana—turned the contest in their favor with clinical execution.

Aquib Nabi’s Game-Changing Spell

Kashmir pacer Aquib Nabi scripted history in the Duleep Trophy by delivering a hat-trick at a crucial juncture of the match. His ability to generate sharp movement with the new ball rattled East Zone’s top order, breaking the backbone of their batting line-up.

• His hat-trick saw him dismiss three established batters in consecutive deliveries, leaving East reeling.
• The feat not only swung momentum but also ignited the crowd, reminding fans of the impact domestic cricket can create.
• Nabi’s rhythm and consistency made him nearly unplayable in this spell, cementing his position as one of the most exciting emerging pacers in the country.

Arshdeep Singh’s Discipline Pays Off

India’s left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, known for his accuracy and variations, backed Nabi brilliantly. Bowling tight lines, he ensured constant pressure from the other end. His ability to extract swing under helpful conditions forced East’s batters into playing risky shots, further contributing to their collapse.

• Arshdeep’s experience of international cricket was evident in the way he managed the tempo of his spells.
• He picked up crucial wickets while keeping the scoring rate under check, making life extremely difficult for the opposition.

Harshit Rana’s Firepower

The third key contributor for North was Harshit Rana, who showcased his raw pace and aggression. The young quick, often compared to India’s emerging fast-bowling crop, used short-pitched deliveries and seam movement to unsettle East’s lower middle order.

• Rana’s fiery spell ensured there was no recovery for East after Nabi’s hat-trick.
• His aggressive approach added a new dimension to North’s pace attack, complementing the discipline of Arshdeep and the sharpness of Nabi.

East Zone’s Struggles

For East Zone, the day was a nightmare as their batting unit crumbled under pressure. Despite showing glimpses of resistance, they failed to stitch together meaningful partnerships. The inability to counter North’s relentless pace attack pushed them into a corner.

• Senior players couldn’t convert starts into big innings.
• The collapse highlighted East Zone’s dependence on individual brilliance rather than collective effort.

North Zone in Command

By the end of the day’s play, North Zone had established clear control over the contest. With a strong pace trio and momentum firmly on their side, they look set to advance further in the tournament. The hat-trick from Aquib Nabi will undoubtedly be remembered as the defining moment of this quarter-final.

Why This Performance Matters

The Duleep Trophy is not just a zonal competition; it is a platform for domestic cricketers to showcase their talent for national selection. Aquib Nabi’s hat-trick, along with the strong showings from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, has pushed their names firmly into the spotlight.

For selectors and fans, these performances highlight the depth of India’s fast-bowling resources, which continues to grow stronger with each domestic season.

The quarter-final clash has turned into a bowlers’ spectacle, with Aquib Nabi’s hat-trick standing out as a moment of brilliance. As North Zone tightens its grip, all eyes will be on whether East can script a comeback or if the match will go down as a showcase of North’s pace dominance in the Duleep Trophy 2025.