India’s top domestic red-ball tournament, the Duleep Trophy, kicks off on August 28! Six zonal teams will battle it out until September 15.
Let Vegas11 break down the Duleep Trophy format and share our champion prediction! Every year, plenty of IPL stars sign up for this clash - don’t miss the action!
When it comes to red-ball cricket, people will always think of the Duleep Trophy. It is India’s top domestic tournament, played in the Test format, where one match can go for four days. If the two teams are equally strong, the game may even continue to the fifth day.
The red-ball games in the Trophy are more like a strategy battle, where you see how players use patience and skills to turn the match around - really deep and exciting!
Among them are both well-known stars and many new players.
The BCCI uses the Duleep Trophy to sharpen young talents, giving players like Tilak Varma or Dhruv Jurel more opportunities, instead of letting senior players (like Ravindra Jadeja) dominate the squad list.
The 2024 Duleep Trophy had 4 teams, but in 2025 it changes back to 6 zones. The team squads are divided into North , East , South , West , Central and North-East Zone, and each zone will send their strongest 15-player squad.
The tournament starts on August 28 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, using a knockout format. South Zone and West Zone will go directly into the semi-finals, while the other four zones must play in the quarter-finals to fight for the final championship!
In the last edition of the zonal format held in 2023, the South Zone were the champions and the West Zone were the runners-up.
According to the BCCI’s tournament rules, the two teams that reached the finals of the previous conference tournament will automatically qualify for the semifinals.
As of 2025, the team that has won the Duleep Trophy the most times is West Zone with 19 titles. Followed closely by the North Zone with 18 titles.
Since this year returns to the zonal format, most people see West Zone as the top favorite for the title, given that they have won the most Duleep Trophy championships in history.
At the same time, considering South Zone’s consistency, their 2023 championship performance, and their direct qualification to the 2025 semi-finals, South Zone also stands out as one of the strongest contenders for the 2025 Duleep Trophy crown.
The Duleep Trophy is played with the red-ball Test match format, not ODI. Each match can last up to five days, with every team getting 2 innings each (4 innings in total).
In other words, within those five days, both sides have two chances to bat. But the game may finish earlier if one team wins outright (for example, bowling the opponent out twice or building a massive lead), or it can even end in a draw if the weather interferes.
Yes, since the Duleep Trophy follows the Test match format, draws are possible - especially if the four innings cannot be completed within five days, or if the scores remain level.
In the 2025 knockout format, however, if a match ends in a draw, the team with a first-innings lead will advance to the next round.
The quarter-finals will be played from August 28 to 31, the semi-finals from September 4 to 7, and the final from September 11 to 15.
Duleep Trophy 2025 is super exciting with a knockout format – lose once and you’re out! Here’s the schedule:
Quarter-finals (Aug 28 - 31):
Semi-finals (Sep 4 - 7):
Final (Sep 11 - 15):
The 2025 Duleep Trophy will be played across multiple venues inside the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, including Ground B. The final will be hosted at the main venue, Ground A.
The Bengaluru pitch is usually considered balanced for both batters and bowlers. In the early stages, it tends to favor the fast bowlers, as the new ball can generate extra bounce and movement off the surface.
As the match progresses, especially by the fourth and fifth day, the pitch often shows signs of wear, bringing more assistance to the spinners.
This year, players from five zones include IPL stars in their squads - the only exception is the North-East Zone, which has no IPL players. Let’s take a look at the star cricketers from each team:
Want to catch all the exciting Duleep Trophy action? Indian fans have plenty of options! Matches will be broadcast live on Sports18 Network TV, and online streaming is available on JioCinema or even on some Indian online betting platforms for free.
JioCinema not only provides live scores but also match highlights and player interviews to keep fans fully entertained.
Meanwhile, betting sites offer live streaming along with real-time scores and instant betting options!
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