Duleep Trophy 2025 full schedule: Match dates, timings, format, venues, and all you need to know

NEW DELHI: The 2025–26 Indian home cricket season will get underway with the Duleep Trophy, set to run from August 28 to September 15. Acting as a key warm-up event ahead of India’s extended home Test campaign, the tournament will see the return of the traditional zonal format, following last year’s four-team setup chosen directly by the national selectors. Under the reinstated structure, teams will compete representing their respective zones — North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone, Central Zone, and North East Zone. The quarter-finals will feature North Zone taking on East Zone and Central Zone facing North East Zone. South Zone and West Zone, who were the finalists in the previous zonal edition in 2023, have secured direct spots in the semi-finals. All matches are scheduled to begin at 9:30 am.The tournament will mainly be held at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, providing consistent playing conditions and simplifying logistics. This centralised venue is expected to offer top-notch facilities for players and support staff, with pitches tailored for competitive red-ball cricket. Traditionally seen as a proving ground for domestic players on the verge of national selection, the Duleep Trophy will feature several India A and fringe Test players eager to make their mark ahead of the upcoming high-profile Test series. With the revival of zonal rivalries and a compact, intense schedule, the tournament promises a blend of tradition, emerging talent, and high-stakes action as India’s cricket season kicks off.