The 2026 Duleep Trophy officially got underway on August 23, marking the beginning of another important Indian domestic cricket season. The prestigious first-class tournament brings together six zonal teams in a knockout format, with matches being staged at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before the competition moves to Chennai for the final.
Scheduled from August 23 to September 10, the tournament offers an important platform for established players and emerging cricketers to make their mark in the longer format. With several familiar names involved, the Duleep Trophy is once again expected to attract plenty of attention from Indian cricket fans.
Experienced stars and young prospects in the spotlight
The Central Zone will be led by Rajat Patidar, with Rinku Singh serving as vice-captain. The defending champions also have players such as Yash Thakur in their ranks as they begin their title defence.
East Zone have Ishan Kishan at the helm, while one of the biggest talking points surrounding their squad is the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain. The teenager will share the dressing room with experienced campaigners, including Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, giving the side an interesting blend of youth and experience.
West Zone, meanwhile, will be captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, with Shams Mulani as his deputy. Prithvi Shaw and Shardul Thakur add considerable experience to the squad, while Sarfaraz Khan is expected to join the team for the semi-final stage after India’s Test commitments conclude.
South Zone will be led by Tilak Varma, with Ricky Bhui as vice-captain. The side also possesses plenty of experience in its middle order, with Karun Nair and R Smaran among the notable names.
North Zone have handed captaincy duties to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. The squad contains several Jammu & Kashmir players alongside India pacer Arshdeep Singh and talented batter Ayush Badoni. North East Zone, captained by Rongsen Jonathan, will be hoping to cause an upset against the more traditionally dominant zones.
Duleep Trophy schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 23, 2026 | 1st Quarter-final: East Zone vs North East Zone | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, Bengaluru | 9:30 AM IST |
| August 23, 2026 | 2nd Quarter-final: North Zone vs West Zone | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru | 9:30 AM IST |
| August 30, 2026 | 1st Semi-final: Central Zone vs TBC | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru | 9:30 AM IST |
| August 30, 2026 | 2nd Semi-final: South Zone vs TBC | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2, Bengaluru | 9:30 AM IST |
| September 6, 2026 | Final: TBC vs TBC | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 9:30 AM IST |
Broadcast and Live Streaming details
Indian fans can follow the tournament through JioHotstar, which will provide live streaming via its app and website. Television coverage will be available across the Star Sports Network.
