Duleep Trophy 2026 | Schedule, Teams, Results, Records and Tournament

The Duleep Trophy is one of India’s most prestigious First Class cricket tournaments. Since the 1961 to 62 season, it has served as a platform where top domestic cricketers compete at a higher level before progressing to India A and the national team. This guide brings together the latest schedule, teams, venues, winners, records, statistics, and tournament history in one place, making it easy to find reliable information without switching between multiple websites.

Duleep Trophy Overview 

Before exploring the latest season, here are the key details about the tournament.

Information	Details
Tournament	Duleep Trophy
Sport	Cricket
Format	First Class
Organized By	Board of Control for Cricket in India
First Edition	1961 to 62
Named After	Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji
Competition Type	Domestic Cricket Tournament
Traditional Teams	North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone, Central Zone, North East Zone
Most Successful Team	West Zone
Purpose	To identify and develop top First Class cricketers for higher levels of Indian cricket

What Is the Duleep Trophy?

The Duleep Trophy is a First Class cricket tournament organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. It brings together some of the country’s best domestic players, giving them an opportunity to compete against stronger opposition before progressing to higher levels of representative cricket.

Unlike many domestic tournaments where players represent their state associations, the Duleep Trophy has traditionally followed a zonal structure. Over the years, the competition has also adopted formats featuring India A, India B, India C, and India D teams to meet the evolving needs of Indian domestic cricket.

Today, the tournament remains an important part of the domestic calendar and continues to showcase players capable of succeeding in the longest format of the game.

Evolution of the Duleep Trophy Over the Years:

The Duleep Trophy has evolved alongside Indian domestic cricket. Although its core objective has always been to provide high quality First Class competition, the tournament has adopted different formats over the decades to meet the changing needs of player development and national team selection. Despite these changes, it remains one of the most respected competitions in the Indian domestic calendar.

Major Milestones in Duleep Trophy History

Year	Milestone
1961 to 62	The inaugural Duleep Trophy was held with five zonal teams. West Zone won the first title.
1993 to 94	The tournament shifted from a knockout format to a league based competition.
2002 to 03	Zonal teams were replaced for one season by teams based on Ranji Trophy groups.
2003 to 04	Foreign representative teams such as England A were invited to participate.
2009 to 10	The tournament returned to the traditional zonal format.
2016 to 17	India Blue, India Red, and India Green replaced zonal teams. Day night First Class matches with the pink ball were introduced.
2020 to 21 to 2021 to 22	The tournament was not held because of the pandemic and scheduling changes.
2022 to 23	The zonal format returned with the addition of the North East Zone.
2024 to 25	The competition adopted India A, India B, India C, and India D teams in a round robin format.
2025 to 26	The zonal format returned with six teams competing in a knockout competition.

The tournament’s ability to adapt has helped it remain relevant while continuing to identify players capable of succeeding in Test cricket.

Memorable Matches in Duleep Trophy History:

The Duleep Trophy has witnessed several remarkable contests that are still remembered by cricket followers. These matches produced outstanding individual performances, dramatic finishes, and historic milestones that shaped the tournament’s legacy.

Historic Matches Worth Remembering

Season	Match	Why It Is Memorable?
1961 to 62 Final	West Zone vs South Zone	The inaugural final where West Zone became the first Duleep Trophy champions.
1991	West Zone vs East Zone	Young Sachin Tendulkar scored 159 while Sourav Ganguly made an unbeaten 124 on his Duleep Trophy debut.
1996	South Zone vs West Zone	Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman added a record 409 run partnership for the third wicket.
2016	India Blue campaign	The tournament introduced day night First Class cricket using the pink ball.
2022 Final	West Zone vs South Zone	West Zone claimed another title after the return of the zonal format.

These matches demonstrate how the Duleep Trophy has consistently showcased future international stars long before they became household names.

Duleep Trophy 2026 Tournament Snapshot:

The 2026 edition continues the tournament’s role as one of India’s most important domestic red ball competitions. The event features leading performers from across the country competing in multi day matches under the First Class format.

The latest season section on this website will be updated with the complete match schedule, fixtures, results, venues, squads, points table, and player performances as official information becomes available.

Season Highlights	Status
Tournament Edition	2026
Match Schedule	Updated During Tournament
Participating Teams	Official Squads
Venues	Available Before Tournament
Results	Updated After Every Match
Points Table	Live During Competition
Top Run Scorer	Updated During Tournament
Top Wicket Taker	Updated During Tournament

Why is the Duleep Trophy Important for Indian Cricket?

The Duleep Trophy is more than another domestic tournament. It allows selectors to evaluate players against some of the strongest competition available outside international cricket.

Players who perform consistently often strengthen their chances of earning opportunities with India A or the senior national team. The tournament also helps experienced domestic cricketers test themselves against quality opponents in conditions that closely resemble Test cricket.

Why does it continues to matter?

• High quality First Class competition.
• Opportunity for emerging players to impress selectors.
• Strong pathway towards India A and Test cricket.
• Platform to assess players against elite domestic talent.
• An important part of India’s domestic cricket structure.

Duleep Trophy 2026 Schedule, Fixtures and Results:

The Duleep Trophy 2026 begins on 23 August 2026 and concludes with the final on 10 September 2026. The tournament features six zonal teams competing in a knockout format, with Central Zone and South Zone receiving direct entry to the semi finals. 

The complete fixture list below includes all confirmed matches announced for the tournament and will be updated with results as each game is completed. 

Match	Teams	Date	Time (IST)
Quarter Final 1	East Zone vs North East Zone	23 August 2026	9:30 AM
Quarter Final 2	North Zone vs West Zone	23 August 2026	9:30 AM
Semi Final 1	Central Zone vs Winner of Quarter Final 1	30 August 2026	9:30 AM
Semi Final 2	South Zone vs Winner of Quarter Final 2	30 August 2026	9:30 AM
Final	Winner of Semi Final 1 vs Winner of Semi Final 2	6 September to 10 September 2026	9:30 AM

The schedule above reflects the official domestic calendar. Match results and scorecards can be updated here as each game concludes. 

Duleep Trophy Teams and Squad Information:

The Duleep Trophy has featured different team structures throughout its history. While the tournament was originally contested between India’s cricket zones, some editions introduced India A, India B, India C, and India D teams to provide selectors with greater flexibility when evaluating players.

The current tournament format determines which teams participate in a particular season.

Traditional Zonal Teams

Team	Region Represented
Central Zone	Central India
East Zone	Eastern India
North Zone	Northern India
North East Zone	North Eastern India
South Zone	Southern India
West Zone	Western India

Recent Team Formats

Depending on the season, the tournament may feature:

• India A
• India B
• India C
• India D

The Board of Control for Cricket in India decides the playing format before each edition based on the domestic cricket calendar and selection requirements.

How Players Are Selected for the Duleep Trophy?

Selection is based on performances in India’s domestic cricket season. Players who consistently perform in First Class competitions, especially the Ranji Trophy, are considered for inclusion.

National selectors and zonal selection also consider:

• Recent domestic form
• Fitness and availability
• Batting and bowling balance
• All round ability
• Wicket keeping options
• Long term development plans

The objective is to create competitive squads while giving promising players the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest domestic cricketers in the country.

Duleep Trophy Format and Tournament Structure:

The Duleep Trophy has adopted different competition formats throughout its history. While earlier editions mainly featured zonal teams in knockout competitions, some seasons introduced India A, India B, India C, and India D teams before the tournament returned to the zonal structure.

For the current competition, the tournament features six zonal teams playing in a knockout format.

Current Tournament Structure

Format Details	Information
Cricket Format	First Class
Number of Teams	6
Tournament Format	Knockout
Match Duration	Four Days
Final Duration	Five Days
Administrator	Board of Control for Cricket in India

The structure rewards consistency while keeping the tournament competitive from the opening match to the final. Every game is played under First Class cricket regulations, testing a player’s technique, patience, and ability to perform over multiple days.

How the Tournament Format Has Changed?

The Duleep Trophy has adapted to the changing needs of Indian domestic cricket. Different formats have been introduced to improve competition and provide selectors with better opportunities to assess players.

Period	Tournament Structure
1961 onwards	Zonal Teams
Selected Seasons	League and Knockout Variations
2016 to 2019	India Red, India Blue and India Green
2023 and 2024	India A, India B, India C and India D
Recent Seasons	Format announced before each edition

These changes have helped the tournament remain relevant while continuing to support India’s player development pathway.

Duleep Trophy Venues and Stadiums:

The tournament has been hosted at several renowned cricket grounds across India during its long history. In recent editions, the BCCI has increasingly used high quality venues that provide excellent playing conditions and facilities for players and officials.

For the 2026 edition, matches are scheduled to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, continuing the recent practice of hosting the tournament at a centralized venue.

Major Venues Used in Duleep Trophy History

Venue	City	State
BCCI Centre of Excellence	Bengaluru	Karnataka
M Chinnaswamy Stadium	Bengaluru	Karnataka
MA Chidambaram Stadium	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
Eden Gardens	Kolkata	West Bengal
Wankhede Stadium	Mumbai	Maharashtra
Green Park Stadium	Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium	Hyderabad	Telangana

Over the decades, the Duleep Trophy has travelled across India, giving different regions the opportunity to host one of the country’s premier First Class competitions. The selection of venues depends on factors such as pitch quality, infrastructure, weather conditions, and the domestic cricket calendar.

Duleep Trophy Winners List:

Winning the Duleep Trophy is regarded as one of the biggest achievements in Indian domestic First Class cricket. Since the tournament began in 1961, several zonal teams have lifted the trophy, with West Zone and North Zone enjoying the greatest success. Over the years, the tournament has also seen shared titles and different competition formats, but its prestige has remained unchanged. 

Most Successful Teams in Duleep Trophy History:

Team	Titles	Most Recent Title
West Zone	19	2022
North Zone	18	2013 shared
South Zone	14	2023
Central Zone	6	2025 to 26
East Zone	2	2012 to 13
India Blue	2	2018 to 19
India Red	2	2019 to 20
Elite Group C	1	2002 to 03

Shared titles are counted according to official tournament records. Recent Duleep Trophy Champions

Season	Winner	Runner Up	Result
2025 to 26	Central Zone	South Zone	Won by 6 wickets
2023	South Zone	West Zone	Won by 75 runs
2022	West Zone	South Zone	Won by 294 runs
2019 to 20	India Red	India Green	Won by innings and 38 runs
2018 to 19	India Blue	India Red	Won by 44 runs
2017	India Red	India Blue	Won by 163 runs
2016	India Blue	India Red	Won by 355 runs

Visit our dedicated Duleep Trophy Winners List page for the complete season by season champions table from 1961 onwards.

Duleep Trophy Records and Statistics:

The Duleep Trophy has produced several memorable performances across batting, bowling, fielding, and team cricket. Many of these records have remained unbeaten for decades, highlighting the quality of players who have competed in the tournament. 

Batting Records

Record	Player	Achievement
Most Runs	Wasim Jaffer	2,545
Highest Individual Score	Raman Lamba	320
Most Runs in One Tournament	Raman Lamba	659
Highest Batting Average	Raman Lamba	86.25
Most Centuries	Anshuman Gaekwad	9
Most Fifty Plus Scores	Wasim Jaffer	21
Highest Partnership	Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman	409

Bowling Records

Record	Player	Achievement
Most Wickets	Narendra Hirwani	126
Best Bowling in an Innings	Debasis Mohanty	10 for 46
Best Bowling in a Match	Debasis Mohanty	14 for 91
Most Wickets in One Tournament	Narendra Hirwani	34
Most Five Wicket Hauls	Narendra Hirwani	8
Most Ten Wicket Matches	Narendra Hirwani	2

Fielding Records

Record	Player	Achievement
Most Dismissals by a Wicketkeeper	Parthiv Patel	88
Most Dismissals in a Match	Sameer Dighe	10
Most Catches by a Fielder	Wasim Jaffer	41

Team Records

Record	Team	Achievement
Highest Team Total	North Zone	868
Lowest Team Total	North Zone	48
Lowest Team Total Equal	East Zone	48
Most Titles	West Zone	19
Longest Tournament History	Duleep Trophy	Since 1961

Top Performers in Duleep Trophy History:

Over six decades, many outstanding cricketers have left their mark on the Duleep Trophy. These players consistently delivered exceptional performances against some of the strongest domestic opposition in India and remain among the tournament’s greatest performers.

Leading Run Scorers

Rank	Player	Matches	Runs
1	Wasim Jaffer	30	2,545
2	Vikram Rathour	25	2,265
3	Anshuman Gaekwad	26	2,004
4	Ajay Sharma	26	1,961
5	Aakash Chopra	24	1,918

Leading Wicket Takers

Rank	Player	Matches	Wickets
1	Narendra Hirwani	29	126
2	Sairaj Bahutule	30	112
3	BS Chandrasekhar	24	99
4	S Venkataraghavan	26	95
5	EAS Prasanna	24	83

Players with the Most Matches

Rank	Player	Matches
1	Mohinder Amarnath	31
2	Wasim Jaffer	30
3	Sairaj Bahutule	30
4	Narendra Hirwani	29
5	Anshuman Gaekwad	26

Famous Indian Cricketers Who Played in the Duleep Trophy:

The Duleep Trophy has long been a platform where established international stars and promising domestic cricketers compete against each other. Many players who later enjoyed successful careers for India have represented their respective zones in this prestigious tournament.

Player	Zone	Notable Contribution
Rahul Dravid	South Zone	Part of the record 409 run partnership and one of India’s greatest Test batters.
VVS Laxman	South Zone	Shared the highest partnership in tournament history with Rahul Dravid.
Sachin Tendulkar	West Zone	Represented the West Zone during his domestic career.
Anil Kumble	South Zone	One of India’s greatest spin bowlers and a regular domestic performer.
Virender Sehwag	North Zone	Played for North Zone before becoming one of India’s most successful opening batters.
Virat Kohli	North Zone	Featured during his domestic career as part of his red ball development.
Rohit Sharma	West Zone	Represented the West Zone while progressing through India’s domestic structure.
Ravichandran Ashwin	South Zone	Competed in the tournament before becoming one of India’s leading Test bowlers.

The presence of these players reflects the tournament’s importance within the Indian domestic cricket system. Consistent performances in the Duleep Trophy have often helped players strengthen their credentials for higher honours, making it one of the most respected competitions in the country’s First Class calendar. 

Frequently Asked Questions: