Duleep Trophy Winners List (1961 to Present) | Complete Champions and Runners Up

The Duleep Trophy has been one of the most prestigious tournaments in Indian domestic First Class cricket since its inaugural season in 1961 to 62. Named after the legendary cricketer Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, the competition has showcased some of the finest talents in Indian cricket and has played an important role in identifying players capable of representing the national team.

Over the years, the tournament has witnessed several format changes, including knockout competitions, league stages, and special editions featuring India A, India B, India C, and India D teams. Despite these changes, winning the Duleep Trophy has remained one of the biggest achievements in India’s domestic cricket calendar.

On this page, you can explore the complete Duleep Trophy winners list, the most successful teams, championship trends, and how the tournament has evolved through different decades.

Complete Duleep Trophy Winners List:

Since the first edition in 1961 to 62, the Duleep Trophy has crowned numerous champions representing different cricket zones across India. The table below includes every winner and runner up from the inaugural season through the end of the twentieth century. Some editions ended with shared champions after drawn finals, while certain later seasons adopted a league based format. All information below has been verified using historical cricket archives. 

Season	Winner	Runner Up
1961 to 62	West Zone	South Zone
1962 to 63	West Zone	South Zone
1963 to 64	West Zone and South Zone	Shared Title
1964 to 65	West Zone	Central Zone
1965 to 66	South Zone	Central Zone
1966 to 67	South Zone	West Zone
1967 to 68	South Zone	West Zone
1968 to 69	West Zone	South Zone
1969 to 70	West Zone	North Zone
1970 to 71	South Zone	East Zone
1971 to 72	Central Zone	West Zone
1972 to 73	West Zone	Central Zone
1973 to 74	North Zone	Central Zone
1974 to 75	South Zone	West Zone
1975 to 76	South Zone	North Zone
1976 to 77	West Zone	North Zone
1977 to 78	West Zone	North Zone
1978 to 79	North Zone	West Zone
1979 to 80	North Zone	West Zone
1980 to 81	West Zone	East Zone
1981 to 82	West Zone	East Zone
1982 to 83	North Zone	South Zone
1983 to 84	North Zone	West Zone
1984 to 85	South Zone	North Zone
1985 to 86	West Zone	South Zone
1986 to 87	South Zone	West Zone
1987 to 88	North Zone	West Zone
1988 to 89	North Zone and West Zone	Shared Title
1989 to 90	South Zone	Central Zone
1990 to 91	North Zone	West Zone
1991 to 92	North Zone	West Zone
1992 to 93	North Zone	Central Zone
1993 to 94	North Zone	West Zone
1994 to 95	North Zone	South Zone
1995 to 96	South Zone	Central Zone
1996 to 97	Central Zone	South Zone
1997 to 98	Central Zone and West Zone	Shared Title
1998 to 99	Central Zone	West Zone
1999 to 2000	North Zone	West Zone

Most Successful Teams in Duleep Trophy History:

The history of the Duleep Trophy has largely been shaped by a few dominant zonal teams. West Zone established itself as the most successful side during the early decades of the competition, while North Zone enjoyed a remarkable run during the 1990s. South Zone has also remained one of the strongest teams throughout the tournament’s history, consistently producing championship winning performances.

These teams have not only won multiple titles but have also contributed many players who later represented India in Test cricket. Their sustained success reflects the strength of their domestic cricket structure and the depth of talent available across their respective regions.

Team	Overall Performance
West Zone	Most successful team in Duleep Trophy history with the highest number of championship victories.
North Zone	Dominated the tournament during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s with multiple title wins.
South Zone	One of the most consistent teams since the inaugural edition with several championships across different decades.
Central Zone	Emerged as a competitive force from the 1970s onwards and has won multiple titles.
East Zone	Won fewer championships but has produced memorable performances and successful campaigns.

Duleep Trophy Winners Through the Decades:

Looking at the champions decade by decade provides a better understanding of which teams dominated different eras of the tournament. While West Zone established itself as the early powerhouse, North Zone enjoyed remarkable success during the late 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the tournament has featured both zonal teams and selector chosen squads, making the list of champions even more diverse.

Decade	Dominant Teams
1960s	West Zone and South Zone
1970s	West Zone, South Zone, North Zone, Central Zone
1980s	West Zone and North Zone
1990s	North Zone and Central Zone
2000s	North Zone and West Zone
2010s	Central Zone, East Zone, India Blue, India Red
2020s	West Zone, South Zone, India A, Central Zone

How the Duleep Trophy Champion Is Decided?

The method used to determine the Duleep Trophy winner has changed several times throughout the tournament’s history. While the objective has always remained the same, identifying the strongest team, the competition format has evolved to meet the changing needs of Indian domestic cricket.

Some of the major format changes include:

• Traditional knockout competition between zonal teams.
• League based experiments during selected seasons.
• India A, India B, India C, and India D teams replacing zonal teams in certain editions.
• Return to the traditional zonal format in recent seasons.
• Four day First Class matches with a five day final in the current format. 

These changes have ensured that the tournament continues to provide a high standard of competition while helping selectors assess players under different match situations.

Duleep Trophy Championship Statistics:

The Duleep Trophy has produced several remarkable achievements over more than six decades. The statistics below highlight some of the tournament’s most notable championship milestones.

Category	Record
First Tournament	1961 to 62
Most Successful Team	West Zone
First Champion	West Zone
Most Recent Champion	Central Zone
Tournament Administrator	Board of Control for Cricket in India
Competition Format	First Class Cricket
Traditional Structure	Zonal Teams
Alternative Structure Used	India A, India B, India C, India D

The tournament continues to serve as one of India’s most prestigious domestic competitions, with every championship adding another chapter to its rich history. 

Interesting Facts About Duleep Trophy Winners:

The Duleep Trophy has produced many memorable moments since its inception. Beyond the list of champions, the tournament has witnessed format innovations, shared titles, and the emergence of future Indian cricket stars.

• West Zone remains the most successful team in tournament history.
• The inaugural Duleep Trophy was won by West Zone in the 1961 to 62 season.
• Some finals ended in shared championships after drawn matches.
• Sri Lanka A reached the final during the 2006 to 07 edition as a guest team.
• India Blue and India Red both won titles during the period when selector chosen teams replaced zonal sides.
• The tournament returned to its traditional zonal format for the 2025 to 26 season after recent experiments with India A, India B, India C, and India D teams. 

Frequently Asked Questions: