Duleep Trophy 2025 Is Back to Rivalry Mode – Zonal Battles Ignite in Bengaluru

Duleep Trophy 2025 is India’s top first-class red-ball cricket tournament, run by the BCCI and named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji. First played in 1961, the event has changed format over time.

In this guide you get the Duleep Trophy 2025 schedule, squads/teams, venue info, and key facts for live score tracking and match centre checks!

Duleep Trophy 2025

India’s premier inter-zonal event in first-class cricket (red ball). The 2025–26 edition runs Aug 28–Sep 15 with a five-match knockout: two quarterfinals, two semifinals, one final. South Zone and West Zone are seeded into the semifinals. All matches are at BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE), Bengaluru.

• Place: all games at BCCI COE, Bengaluru (COE Ground 1 & COE Ground 2).
• Seeds: South Zone & West Zone go straight to semi-final.
• Others: North Zone, East Zone, Central Zone, North East Zone play the quarter-final first.
• Days: QF/SF = 4 days; Final = 5 days.
• New rule: Serious Injury Replacement — like-for-like sub in multi-day games (not white-ball).

Duleep Trophy Champions (1961–62 to 2022–23)

North Zone and West Zone lead the title count, with West Zone historically the most dominant. South Zone has risen in recent years, while the India Blue/Red/Green format briefly spread the trophies more evenly.

• West Zone – 19 titles
  (1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64*, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1988–89*, 1997–98*, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2022–23)
• North Zone – 17 titles
  (1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1988–89*, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2013–14*)
• South Zone – 13 titles
  (1963–64*, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1995–96, 2010–11, 2013–14*)
• Central Zone – 5 titles
  (1971–72, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2014–15)
• East Zone – 2 titles
  (2011–12, 2012–13)
• India Blue – 2 titles
  (2016–17, 2018–19)
• India Red – 2 titles
  (2017–18, 2019–20)
• Elite C – 1 title
  (2002–03)

Duleep Trophy 2025 Schedule

The Duleep Trophy 2025 schedule runs from August 28 to September 15 in Bengaluru. The quarterfinals are set for Aug 28–31 (North Zone vs East Zone, Central Zone vs North East Zone).

The semifinals follow on Sep 4–7, with South Zone and West Zone entering as seeded teams. The final is played on Sep 11–15 at COE Ground 1, with all games starting around 09:30 IST.

• QF1 (Aug 28–31): North Zone vs East Zone — COE Ground 1, Bengaluru
• QF2 (Aug 28–31): Central Zone vs North East Zone — COE Ground 2, Bengaluru
• SF1 (Sep 4–7): South Zone (seed) vs Winner QF1 — COE Ground 1
• SF2 (Sep 4–7): West Zone (seed) vs Winner QF2 — COE Ground 2
• Final (Sep 11–15): Winners of SF1 & SF2 — COE Ground 1

Planned start time: ~09:30 IST. Keywords: fixtures, dates, IST, match centre, live score, scorecard.

Duleep Trophy 2025 Squad

The Duleep Trophy 2025 squads bring together the best players from each of India’s six cricket zones.

Each team mixes experienced internationals with rising domestic stars, making the tournament not only competitive but also a key platform for selectors to spot talent for India’s Test and A teams.

Below is a look at the line-ups for North, South, East, West, Central, and North East Zones.

• North Zone: Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Ayush Badoni.
• West Zone: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande.
• South Zone: Tilak Varma, Devdutt Padikkal, N. Jagadeesan, R. Sai Kishore, Vijaykumar Vyshak.
• Central Zone: Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Rajat Patidar.
• East Zone: Riyan Parag, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar; Ishan Kishan out (injury), Abhimanyu Easwaran leads.
• North East Zone: Few IPL names confirmed; led by Rongsen Jonathan.

Note: squads can change with injuries or call-ups near Aug 28; check the match-centre “Squads” tab for last-minute updates.

Duleep Trophy 2025 Venue

A single-venue cluster at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru, utilizing COE Ground 1 and COE Ground 2 to standardize pitches, simplify logistics, and keep selectors’ scouting in one place; practice facilities and adjacent wickets are on-site, with all five games scheduled there barring weather or operational changes.

• COE is in Bengaluru, near the airport.
• Big campus with 3 grounds; Duleep uses Ground 1 and Ground 2.
• Many practice nets and indoor rooms.
• Has a gym, medical and rehab, and pools.
• Dorms on site for teams.
• All five games are at COE, which makes pitches, travel, and TV easier.

Duleep Trophy 2025 Live

The Duleep Trophy 2025 Live action can be followed through live scores and streaming. Fans can track every ball on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, or Flashscore, while in India the matches are broadcast on Sports18 and streamed on JioCinema.

Live Score & Updates

• ESPNcricinfo offers comprehensive live scores, match schedules, squads, and real-time updates for Duleep Trophy 2025.
• Cricbuzz provides the full schedule, live scores, and match details in their Match Center.
• Flashscore delivers real-time score updates, result tracking, and detailed match stats.

Live Streaming (India)

• Viacom18 holds the broadcasting rights for domestic cricket, including the Duleep Trophy.
• The tournament is typically shown on Sports18 (TV network) and streamed via JioCinema (free access in India).

Summary Table

Duleep Trophy 2025 Prediction

Duleep Trophy 2025 Prediction refers to expert analysis and fan forecasts on which zonal team—North, South, East, West, Central, or North-East—will dominate India’s premier red-ball tournament. It highlights expected winners, key players to watch, and potential dark horses based on squad strength, past records, and form.

Star Players to Watch

All eyes will be on Shardul Thakur from West Zone, who brings not only his experience from IPL and international cricket but also a much-needed balance with both bat and ball in red-ball conditions.

His leadership on the field could prove decisive in guiding younger players. Shubman Gill, the poster boy of Indian batting, is another big name likely to grab attention; beyond his runs, fans will be watching how he embraces a leadership role in a zonal format.

Add to that the craft of Kuldeep Yadav, whose wrist spin becomes lethal on deteriorating Day 3 and Day 4 pitches, and you’ve got a strong mix of established stars who will be under the microscope not just for performance but for Test team readiness.

Upcoming Youngsters

This tournament isn’t just about the big names—it’s a genuine launchpad for the next generation. Riyan Parag (East Zone) has already shown glimpses of brilliance in the IPL, but the Duleep Trophy will test his temperament in longer formats.

Yash Dhull, the U19 World Cup–winning captain, is being groomed as a potential future Test leader, and this competition will be his chance to cement that reputation. Then there’s Tilak Varma (South Zone), whose white-ball skills are well known, but his ability to adapt to red-ball cricket will decide if he’s more than just a limited-overs star.

For these players, this tournament is arguably more important than the IPL—it’s about proving endurance, patience, and technique under pressure.

Big Misses

The squad announcements also sparked debates around who didn’t make it. The most headline-grabbing omission is Arjun Tendulkar. As Sachin’s son, every career step he takes is magnified, and his exclusion quickly lit up social media.

Some see it as a sign that selectors are prioritizing merit, while others feel he deserved a shot. Another notable absence is Ishan Kishan, who withdrew due to fitness concerns, leaving East Zone without a proven match-winner.

These missing names add spice to the discussion, proving once again that the Duleep Trophy isn’t a guaranteed stage for fame—it’s a battleground where only form and fitness matter.

Fan Reactions & Buzz Online

On social media, the nostalgia is real. The phrase “North vs South is back” trended within hours of the announcement, with fans celebrating the return of old-school rivalries.

But not everyone is convinced—critics argue that reviving zonal cricket alone won’t fix deeper issues like low crowds and limited coverage for domestic red-ball tournaments. Still, the buzz is undeniable, and the debates only add fuel to the anticipation for this year’s edition.

With new playing conditions, the return of zonal rivalries, and Viacom18 holding streaming and broadcast rights, the 2025 Duleep Trophy is set to get far more visibility than in recent years.

Expect young stars to use this as a launchpad to India A and even Test selection. Selection controversies are inevitable, and fan debates will only intensify as results unfold. If the BCCI invests in marketing and coverage, this edition could be remembered not just as a nostalgic revival, but as a genuine step toward red-ball resurgence in Indian cricket.

FAQ- Duleep Trophy 2025