First-Class Matches India 2003/04 and 2004/05

In 2002/03 it had been contested as a five-team league by three sides drawn from the Ranji Elite and two from the Plate. But this arrangement failed to command the interest of the public and it was jettisoned after only one season in favour of a reversion to the five geographical zones, even though the Ranji revamp had deprived them of their original raison d’être. The competition was invigorated by the inclusion of the England A side, making six teams in total which played in two mini-leagues of three, followed by a final. In the event, the Englishmen had their moments but ended up losing both their Group B matches. East Zone won the group, but lost a well-contested final to North Zone. The left-handed opener Dheeraj Jadhav was undoubtedly the surprise of the domestic season: after four seasons on the fringes of first-class cricket, during which he had given scant evidence of the quality to succeed at this level, he suddenly blossomed with 1245 runs for Maharashtra and West Zone, averaging 103.75. Duleep Trophy 2003/04: Final tables Group A P W L DWF DLF ND Pts Quot 4 0 2 0 1 1 North Zone 2 2 0 0 0 0 8 1.175 2 West Zone 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0.983 3 Central Zone 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0.805 Group B P W L DWF DLF ND Pts Quot 4 0 2 0 1 1 East Zone 2 1 0 1 0 0 6 1.100 2 South Zone 2 1 0 0 1 0 4 1.278 3 England A 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.803 FINAL: North Zone beat East Zone by 59 runs 8 India in 2003/04