The 2025-26 season started with the Duleep Trophy and Danish Malewar made a big impact. The 21-year-old smashed 203 for Central Zone against North East Zone before retiring, showing he’s got the red-ball game even at his age.
Malewar’s rise has been rapid since his first-class debut in 2024. He scored 783 runs in his first Ranji season which included a 153 in the final against Kerala helping Vidarbha win their third Ranji Trophy. He was Vidarbha’s third highest run-scorer that season after Yash Rathod and Karun Nair. Now he’s the first player from Vidarbha to score a century in Duleep Trophy. His big performances came in the 2024 Ranji Trophy knockout stages. Malewar fought hard for 79 against Mumbai in the semifinal before shining in the final against Kerala. He ended the season with a 52.20 average, fifth highest run-scorer.
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Batting at No. 3, the Nagpur boy is often compared to Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara because of his calm approach and ability to wear down bowlers. In just 10 first-class matches he has already scored fifty or more five times, turned several of those into centuries and has a great average of 65.40. But this young man comes from a humble background.
“My father always wanted me to play cricket and I joined an academy when I was seven. He went through a lot to make sure I had everything I needed for cricket. Some people gave me bats, pads and gloves when I scored runs in my younger days. I only started making money after my under-19 days,” Malewar told Indian Express.
Malewar came in early and held the innings together with great maturity. First he put together a 144-run partnership with Aryan Juyal before the wicketkeeper-batter had to retire hurt at 60. Then he and captain Rajat Patidar had a huge 199-run partnership, with Patidar blasting 125 off just 96 balls.
The double century showed his ability to play long innings and he’s getting bigger in Indian domestic cricket. With Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli retired from tests, BCCI selectors will keep an eye on him for the No. 3 spot in red-ball internationals. If he continues to perform in 2025-26 season he might get a call up to the Indian test team soon.
