The Duleep Trophy 2026 is set to showcase an impressive lineup of players, including notable stars from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the recent ICC Cricket World Cup. The tournament will kick off with the quarter-finals on August 23, featuring teams from East Zone, North Zone, South Zone, West Zone, Central Zone, and North East Zone.
Leading the South Zone is Tilak Varma, who has been appointed captain, with Ricky Bhui serving as his vice-captain. Varma's squad includes several key players, such as Karun Nair and Ravichandran Smaran, who recently topped the charts as the highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy. The pace attack for the South Zone will be spearheaded by Kerala's MD Nidheesh, supported by Vidwath Kaverappa and K Sai Teja, promising a formidable challenge for their opponents.
On the other hand, the Central Zone will be under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, a two-time IPL-winning captain. Patidar's team will be defending their title, and it includes Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, and Yash Thakur. Notably, Saransh Jain, who recently received his first call-up to the Indian Test squad, will lead the spin department alongside Dubey and Zeeshan Ansari. The Central Zone's first match is scheduled for August 30, where they will face the winner of the East Zone versus North East Zone quarter-final.
The East Zone has named Ishan Kishan as its captain, but the spotlight is on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been appointed as vice-captain despite having played only eight first-class matches. This decision has raised eyebrows as Sooryavanshi was chosen over the more experienced Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has consistently performed well in domestic cricket.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the West Zone, with Shams Mulani as his deputy. The squad is heavily represented by players from Mumbai, including Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, and Sarfaraz Khan. Young talents like Harvik Desai, Urvil Patel, and Musheer Khan will also be part of the team, while the spin department will likely be led by Mulani and Tanush Kotian. The West Zone is set to face the North Zone on August 23, a match that promises to be an exciting opener.
Kanhaiya Wadhawan will captain the North Zone, which is still finalizing its squad. The North East Zone is yet to announce its captain, adding an element of intrigue as the tournament approaches.
The Duleep Trophy, a prestigious first-class cricket tournament in India, showcases regional teams and serves as a platform for players to demonstrate their skills at a higher level. The tournament's format includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, all taking place in Bengaluru. The final is scheduled for September 6-10, where the best teams will compete for the coveted trophy.
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