The Duleep Trophy is an Indian domestic first class cricket tournament that brings together some of the country’s leading cricketers. It was introduced in the 1961–62 season and is named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, who represented England in Test cricket.
The competition has traditionally featured six regional teams, representing North, South, East, West, Central and North East India. Its format has changed over the years, with centrally selected teams used in some seasons before the zonal structure returned in 2025–26.
What Is the Duleep Trophy?
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The Duleep Trophy is a domestic first class cricket competition organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, the nephew of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, after whom the Ranji Trophy is named. Duleepsinhji also played for England and represented Sussex in county cricket.
Unlike the Ranji Trophy, which features teams representing states and cricket associations, the traditional Duleep Trophy brings together selected players from different domestic teams under regional zones. It gives cricketers an opportunity to compete against strong opposition in multi day matches.
What Is the Format of the Duleep Trophy?
The Duleep Trophy has used different competition formats, including league and knockout systems. The 2024–25 edition featured four centrally selected teams: India A, India B, India C and India D. The six team zonal format returned in 2025–26.
The 2026–27 edition followed a knockout format involving six zones. Central Zone and South Zone received direct entry into the semi finals because they were the finalists in the previous season. East Zone, North East Zone, North Zone and West Zone began in the quarter finals.
The competition followed this schedule:
| Stage | Dates | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter finals | 23–26 August 2026 | East Zone vs North East Zone; North Zone vs West Zone |
| Semi finals | 30 August–2 September 2026 | Central Zone vs quarter final winner; South Zone vs quarter final winner |
| Final | 6–10 September 2026 | East Zone vs South Zone |
The final was played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In a drawn final, the first innings lead can decide the winner under the tournament’s playing conditions.
Which Zones Play in the Duleep Trophy?
The traditional Duleep Trophy format includes six teams representing different geographical regions of India. Each zone selects players from domestic teams and cricket associations associated with that region.
| Zone | Main regional representation |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Services |
| South Zone | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Goa and Puducherry |
| East Zone | Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar and Tripura |
| West Zone | Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Baroda and Saurashtra |
| Central Zone | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Railways and Uttarakhand |
| North East Zone | Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim |
These are the traditional regional groupings. The exact squad composition depends on the tournament rules and selections for each season.
How Are Duleep Trophy Teams Selected?
The selection process depends on the format used for that edition. In the traditional zonal structure, selectors consider players from domestic teams associated with each region.
Key factors that influence selection include:
- Ranji Trophy performances: Runs, wickets and consistent performances in domestic first class cricket can strengthen a player’s selection chances.
- Recent form: Selectors assess recent performances rather than relying only on career statistics.
- Fitness and availability: Players must be fit and available for a demanding multi day tournament.
- Team balance: Selectors consider the need for specialist batters, fast bowlers, spinners, wicketkeepers and all rounders.
- Season format: Centrally selected teams such as India A, India B, India C and India D follow a different selection structure from zonal teams.
The final squads and eligibility rules can change from one edition to another. The official team announcements are the best way to confirm the players selected for a particular season.
Who Won the Duleep Trophy in 2026?
Source: Sports Adda
East Zone won the 2026–27 Duleep Trophy after the final against South Zone ended in a draw at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. East Zone secured the title through a substantial first innings lead and ended a 13 year wait for the trophy.
Captain Ishan Kishan was the standout performer. He scored 270 in the first innings and 80 in the second, finishing with 350 runs in the match. East Zone made 708 in its first innings, while South Zone were dismissed for 336, giving East a lead of 372 runs.
On the fifth and final day, East Zone continued batting and declared at 388/7 after 99.2 overs. Md Kounain Quraishi scored an unbeaten 116, while Anukul Roy contributed 64. The declaration took East Zone’s overall lead to 760 runs. Both teams then shook hands, and the match was recorded as a draw. East Zone won because of its first innings advantage.
Kishan received the Player of the Match award for his 270 and 80. South Zone captain Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series after scoring 266 runs in the tournament. East Zone’s victory was its third Duleep Trophy title, following its previous wins in 2011–12 and 2012–13.
Duleep Trophy Winners in Recent Seasons
The winners list reflects the tournament’s changing structure. Some editions featured regional teams, while others used centrally selected sides such as India Blue, India Red and India A.
| Season | Winner | Runner up or outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Central Zone | South Zone |
| 2016–17 | India Blue | India Red |
| 2017–18 | India Red | India Blue |
| 2018–19 | India Blue | India Red |
| 2019–20 | India Red | India Green |
| 2022–23 | West Zone | South Zone |
| 2023 | South Zone | West Zone |
| 2024–25 | India A | Finished first in the points table; no final |
| 2025–26 | Central Zone | South Zone |
| 2026–27 | East Zone | South Zone |
The tournament was not held in several seasons, including 2015–16, 2020–21 and 2021–22. In 2024–25, the competition used four teams and a league format. India A finished at the top of the points table, so there was no final.
The 2018–19 result is also worth noting: India Blue defeated India Red by an innings and 187 runs in the final at Dindigul.
Which Team Has Won the Most Duleep Trophy Titles?
West Zone is the most successful team in Duleep Trophy history, with 19 titles. North Zone follows with 18, while South Zone has won 14. These totals include shared titles where applicable.
| Zone or team | Titles |
|---|---|
| West Zone | 19 |
| North Zone | 18 |
| South Zone | 14 |
| Central Zone | 7 |
| East Zone | 3 |
The figures reflect the historical winners list, including shared titles. Central Zone’s total includes its 2025–26 victory, while East Zone’s third title came in 2026–27. India Blue and India Red also won editions when the tournament used centrally selected teams instead of regional zones.
Why Is the Duleep Trophy Important?
The Duleep Trophy gives domestic cricketers an opportunity to perform against strong opponents outside their usual state teams. It allows batters to demonstrate their ability to build long innings and helps bowlers show that they can maintain accuracy and pressure over extended spells.
The tournament also helps selectors compare players from different regions. A strong performance against experienced domestic cricketers can improve a player’s prospects for India A selection and future international opportunities.
For younger players, the competition provides experience in a selected team environment. They must adjust to new teammates, different tactics and the demands of high level first class cricket.
How Is the Duleep Trophy Different From the Ranji Trophy?
The Ranji Trophy is primarily a state and association based first class competition. Teams represent their domestic cricket associations and compete throughout the season.
The Duleep Trophy traditionally features selected regional teams, bringing players from different domestic sides together. Both tournaments are important to India’s domestic cricket structure, but the Duleep Trophy offers a more concentrated opportunity to compare selected players from different regions.
The two competitions also honour members of the same cricketing family. The Ranji Trophy is named after Ranjitsinhji, while the Duleep Trophy honours his nephew, Duleepsinhji. Their family connection provides a natural link between the histories of the two tournaments.
Conclusion
The Duleep Trophy has been an important part of Indian domestic cricket since the 1961–62 season. Its format has moved between zonal teams and centrally selected sides, with the six zone structure returning in 2025–26. The 2026–27 edition used a knockout format, with East Zone winning the final against South Zone on the basis of a first innings lead.
East Zone’s third title ended a 13 year wait and was built around Ishan Kishan’s outstanding 350 run match performance. West Zone remains the most successful team with 19 titles, followed by North Zone with 18 and South Zone with 14. The competition continues to provide a valuable platform for domestic players to prove themselves against some of India’s strongest cricketers.
FAQs
The Duleep Trophy is an Indian domestic first class cricket tournament named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji. It traditionally features selected players representing geographical zones of India.
East Zone won the 2026–27 edition after the final against South Zone ended in a draw. East Zone secured the trophy through a first innings lead.
The traditional zonal format includes six teams: North, South, East, West, Central and North East Zone. The number and names of teams can differ when the BCCI uses another format.
West Zone leads the historical record with 19 titles, followed by North Zone with 18 and South Zone with 14. The totals include shared titles.
Yes. The Duleep Trophy is a first class red ball competition played over several days. It tests batting technique, bowling endurance and match strategy.
The tournament honours Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, an Indian cricketer who represented England. He was the nephew of Ranjitsinhji, after whom the Ranji Trophy is named.
