The Duleep Trophy 2026 brings six zones together for a high-stakes red-ball contest, with every team chasing a place in the final. The tournament begins on August 23.
The competition features East Zone, North East Zone, North Zone, West Zone, Central Zone and South Zone. As the matches progress, each team will face a different route towards the title.
This guide covers the Duleep Trophy 2026 schedule, squads, venues, tournament format, key players and live coverage.
Duleep Trophy 2026 Schedule
The Duleep Trophy 2026 begins with two quarter-finals on August 23. The winners will move into the semi-finals one week later.
The tournament reaches its final on September 6, with the title match scheduled to continue until September 10 in Bengaluru.
Here is the complete Duleep Trophy 2026 schedule:
| Day & Date | Teams | Format | Time [IST/GMT/Local] | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, August 23 | East Zone vs North East Zone | 1st Quarter-final | 9:30 AM / 4:00 AM / 9:30 AM | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, Bengaluru |
| Sunday, August 23 | North Zone vs West Zone | 2nd Quarter-final | 9:30 AM / 4:00 AM / 9:30 AM | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru |
| Sunday, August 30 | Central Zone vs TBC | 1st Semi-final | 9:30 AM / 4:00 AM / 9:30 AM | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru |
| Sunday, August 30 | South Zone vs TBC | 2nd Semi-final | 9:30 AM / 4:00 AM / 9:30 AM | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, Bengaluru |
| Sunday, September 6 | TBC vs TBC | Final | 9:30 AM / 4:00 AM / 9:30 AM | M.A Chidambaram Stadium |
Duleep Trophy 2026 Format
The Duleep Trophy 2026 features six teams in a single-elimination knockout format. Central Zone and South Zone, the defending champions and runners-up, enter directly in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the other four zones begin in the quarterfinals. East Zone faces North East Zone, while North Zone takes on West Zone.
The semifinal winners then meet in the final to decide the Duleep Trophy 2026 champion. Central Zone faces the East/North East winner, while South Zone meets the North/West winner.
Duleep Trophy 2026 Squads
The six zones of the Duleep Trophy 2026 enter the tournament with a mix of experienced domestic performers and promising young players.
Names such as Mohammed Shami, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi add plenty of experience and interest to the tournament.
Here are the complete squads for all six zones:
| Zone | Captain | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| East Zone | Ishan Kishan | Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Virat Singh, Subhranshu Senapati, Vaibhav Sooryawanshi, Shikhar Mohan, Anukul Roy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Abhijit K Sarkar, Ishan Kishan, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Denish Das |
| North East Zone | Rongsen Jonathan | Kishan Lyngdoh, Rongsen Jonathan, Lalrempuia, Joseph Lalthankhuma, Techi Neri, Kangabam Priyojit Singh, Ashish Thapa, Vino Zhimomi, Ronald Longjam, Imliwati Lemtur, Robin Limboo, Arpit Subash Bhatewara, Akash Choudhary, Bishworjit Konthoujam, Pheiroijam Jotin |
| West Zone | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, Shams Mulani, Musheer Khan, Jaymeet Patel, Siddharth Desai, Shivalik Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Atit Sheth, Harvik Desai, Urvil Patel, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary |
| Central Zone | Rajat Patidar | Rajat Patidar, Aman Mokhade, Rinku Singh, Yash Rathod, Aayush Pandey, Kunal Chandela, Nachiket Bhute, Saransh Jain, Harsh Dubey, Arshad Khan, Aryan Juyal, Kunal Singh Rathore, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Yash Thakur |
| South Zone | Tilak Varma | Tilak Varma, Ricky Bhui, Shaik Rasheed, Kodimela Himateja, Smaran Ravichandran, Karun Nair, Abhinav Tejrana, Tanay Thyagarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Aman Khan, Narayan Jagadeesan, Shreyas Gopal, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Kavuri Saiteja |
| North Zone | Kanhaiya Wadhawan | Ayush Doseja, Yash Dhull, Qamran Iqbal, Sanat Sangwan, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Nishant Sindhu, Abid Mushtaq, Anshul Kamboj, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Arjun Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Nikhil Kashyap, Yudhvir Singh Charak |
Duleep Trophy 2026 Venues
The Duleep Trophy 2026 will use three venues across Bengaluru and Chennai. The Bengaluru grounds will host the knockout matches, while Chennai will stage the final.
Here is a closer look at each venue and its role in the tournament:
BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) Ground 1, Bengaluru
BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 will host the second quarter-final and first semi-final of the Duleep Trophy 2026. It sits near Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli, on Bengaluru’s northern outskirts.
The venue forms part of a new 40-acre high-performance sports campus.
Ground 1 serves as the primary match ground, also known as Ground A, with an 85-yard boundary and floodlights.
It also features a South Pavilion block, lush spectator mounds and classic white picket fencing. The English county-style design gives the ground a quiet, open and professional atmosphere.
The venue uses Mumbai red-soil pitches, which provide true pace, good carry and steep bounce. Fast bowlers can find early movement, while settled batters can score freely once they adjust.
However, the surface can break down slightly on Days 3 and 4, bringing spinners into the contest.
BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) Ground 2, Bengaluru
Ground 2 will host the first quarter-final and second semi-final of the Duleep Trophy 2026. Like Ground 1, it sits within the 40-acre BCCI Centre of Excellence complex near Bengaluru International Airport.
Its open setting includes practice turf clusters, outdoor nets and grass-mound viewing areas.
The ground has slightly smaller 75-yard boundaries and can accommodate around 1,000 to 1,500 spectators.
Its layout creates a high-end club-ground feel rather than a traditional large stadium atmosphere. Therefore, the venue offers a more intimate setting for the tournament’s knockout matches.
Ground 2 differs from Ground 1 through its use of Mandya soil and Kalahandi black-cotton soil pitches.
These surfaces hold together longer and offer less initial seam bounce. As they dry, they can become low and slow, giving spinners an advantage while rewarding batters who play patiently.
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The Duleep Trophy 2026 final will be hosted at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the venue change after the final was originally planned for CoE Ground 1. The move allows spectators to enter the stadium and watch the title clash.
Located near Marina Beach, Chepauk is one of India’s oldest cricket grounds, having been established in 1916.
The stadium can accommodate approximately 38,000 to 50,000 spectators and creates an intense atmosphere. Its translucent-roof stands also allow sea breezes to move through the venue.
The ground is famous for its spin-friendly red and clay-blend pitches, although fast bowlers can find some early movement. As the surface dries, it generally offers greater grip, turn and variable bounce from Day 2.
Key Players to Watch in the Duleep Trophy 2026
The Duleep Trophy 2026 features several players who can make a strong impact across the knockout stages. Their experience and recent performances add extra interest to the competition.
Here are the top five players to watch in the Duleep Trophy 2026:
| Player Name | Zone [Team] in the Duleep Trophy 2026 | Key Stats / Record | Why They Matter in the Duleep Trophy 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Shami | East Zone | Shami has 377 first-class wickets, underlining his proven red-ball experience. | Shami’s experience can lead East Zone’s bowling attack. |
| Vaibhav Sooryawanshi | East Zone | Sooryawanshi became the youngest IPL centurion, reaching his century in 35 balls and finishing with 101 runs off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. | His attacking approach can give East Zone valuable starts. |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | West Zone | Gaikwad scored 184 in the 2025 Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone. | Gaikwad’s run-scoring ability can strengthen West Zone’s top order. |
| Sarfaraz Khan | West Zone | Sarfaraz scored 221* in the 2024 Irani Cup, becoming the first Mumbai batter to score a double-century in the competition. | Sarfaraz’s ability to bat long can anchor West Zone’s middle order. |
| Tilak Varma | South Zone | During the 2024 Duleep Trophy, Tilak smashed a brilliant 111 while playing for India A. | Tilak’s batting can give South Zone the aim of setting bigger targets in the Duleep Trophy 2026. |
Also watch out for Ishan Kishan, Musheer Khan, Shardul Thakur, Karun Nair, Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh, who could also play important roles for their respective zones.
How to Watch The Duleep Trophy 2026 Live
You can watch the Duleep Trophy 2026 live in India on the Star Sports Network. Fans who prefer online viewing can stream the matches through the JioHotstar app and website.
For viewers outside India, coverage will depend on the region. Regional cricket boards or international partners may provide digital coverage in selected territories.
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Conclusion
The Duleep Trophy 2026 brings six zones together for a competitive red-ball battle. With the knockout format, every match carries added importance as teams fight for a place in the final.
Several experienced players and emerging talents will have important roles across the tournament. The performances of players like Mohammed Shami, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Vaibhav Sooryawanshi could add plenty of excitement.
Don’t miss the tournament as the six zones battle for the red-ball crown. Follow the matches live and stay updated with the tournament action.
