The Duleep Trophy returns to its traditional zonal structure after last year’s experiment with a four-team all-star format, bringing with it renewed regional pride and high stakes for players eager to impress national selectors.
Long seen as a bridge between domestic cricket and India A selection, the tournament has always been a litmus test for both emerging talent and seasoned performers.
When the competition gets underway on August 28 at the BCCI’s new Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, players from the six zones — North, South, East, West, Central, and NorthEast — will have plenty to play for. With the domestic season looming and two India A Tests against Australia A on the horizon, this edition promises to be both competitive and consequential.
Back to basics
The BCCI has mandated that India’s Test players feature in domestic tournaments whenever available, and this year’s squads are packed with familiar names.
North Zone named India’s Test captain Shubman Gill as skipper, though doubts remain over his participation as he has been unwell. Even if Gill pulls out, the squad boasts quality with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh and promising pacers Harshit Rana and Anshul Kamboj.
West Zone looks equally formidable, with Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Yashasvi Jaiswal forming a heavyweight batting order under the leadership of Shardul Thakur.
East Zone has plenty of firepower too. Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Riyan Parag provide depth across departments, while Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead, until Ishan Kishan joins the campaign later.
Central Zone could emerge as the dark horse. Dhruv Jurel captains with Rajat Patidar as deputy, while Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, and Deepak Chahar lead a varied attack.
For the NorthEast Zone, led by Nagaland’s Rongsen Jonathan, the tournament represents a rare but vital opportunity to test itself against higher-quality opposition.
Not all squads, however, have complied with the BCCI’s directive. The board expressed disappointment with South Zone for leaving out KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan, and Prasidh Krishna from its initial squad. Tilak Varma leads the side, but late additions remain possible.
Availability is fluid across the board. Several marquee names, including Gill, Arshdeep, Rana, Kuldeep, and Tilak, are expected to leave for the Asia Cup beginning September 9 in the United Arab Emirates, potentially changing the complexion of the later rounds.
A return to tradition
This year’s tournament reverts to a knockout format, with 2023 finalists South and West Zone receiving direct entry into the semifinals. It’s a departure from last season’s round-robin, when selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, assembled four composite teams — India A, B, C, and D — on the recommendation of a panel that included then India head coach Rahul Dravid, NCA chief V.V.S. Laxman, Agarkar, and BCCI domestic chief Abey Kuruvilla.
Feedback from State associations and stakeholders pushed the board to restore the zonal structure.
“It’s a very good change,” says Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla. “The competition will increase, and there’s a different kind of fun when zones play each other. This was needed; everyone wanted it. We requested the BCCI to make the switch, and it’s a good thing that the traditional format has returned.”
Former India international and ex-selector Saba Karim believes the move, combined with the return of zonal selection committees, will help maintain continuity in identifying talent.
“The Duleep Trophy needs to work as a step forward towards India A selection,” Karim says. “So, first you have the Ranji Trophy, then the Duleep Trophy, the next step is India A, and then eventually the national side. That is the kind of ladder you are supposed to make. So, once you have this in mind, it becomes automatic that you pick such players who you feel are capable of representing the nation some years later.”
He adds: “Instead of going back to the old system of mandatorily picking players from each State, whether they have performed or not, having a national selector in the committee helps in picking the best possible 15 who have performed at the Ranji level and whom the selectors feel can move up.”
Pace bench strength
Another storyline this season is India’s search for reliable Test pacers. Injuries and inconsistency have left the bench exposed. Kamboj was handed a debut in England but struggled in Manchester, while Arshdeep has flirted with selection without breaking through.
For bowlers like Shami, Mukesh, Rana and Kamboj, the Duleep Trophy doubles as an audition to strengthen or reclaim their spots. Selectors will also be monitoring left-arm options closely, with Khaleel hoping to push his case against Arshdeep for a long-format role.
As the CoE prepares to host its first major tournament since opening last year, the pitch is expected to offer early assistance to fast bowlers. Those familiar with the venue, however, suggest that conditions tend to ease out as matches progress, bringing batters into the contest. Spectators, however, may be left disappointed. The CoE, located inside a residential complex on the outskirts of Bengaluru, is unlikely to allow public entry due to security concerns.
High stakes
The knockout structure leaves no room for slow starts. The mix of internationals and fringe hopefuls ensures that every match carries weight. For selectors, these five fixtures will sharpen the picture of depth across positions.
Former India international and Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya, who has worked closely with domestic teams, believes the switch away from a league phase benefits fast bowlers in particular.
“In the yesteryear, there were not too many games in the Ranji Trophy. But now, teams get seven matches, followed by knockouts, so that already makes the season long. If you add a round-robin Duleep on top of that, it could get hectic. Players need time to regroup and recover, especially fast bowlers. So, this move works well for them,” Khurasiya says.
As the domestic calendar unfolds, the Duleep Trophy will not only showcase talent but also serve as a critical milestone in the journey of cricketers aiming for the national spotlight.
Published on Aug 26, 2025
