Duleep Trophy 2025: Full Schedule, Squads, Match Dates, Venues

The Duleep Trophy is one of the oldest tournaments in Indian cricket. It is a platform where young talents showcase their skills against the best players from different parts of the country. The 2025 edition of the Duleep Trophy promises to be just as exciting, featuring both budding cricketers and established names. It is an opportunity for players to gain prestige and influence before the upcoming international matches.

The tournament follows a knockout format and a total of six zonal teams from Indian domestic cricket participate in it. These teams are North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone, Central Zone and North East Zone. With quarter-finals, semi-finals and a grand final, the schedule is packed with prestigious local venues across India.

Tournament Format 

The Duleep Trophy 2025 is being played in the traditional four-day format with first-class status. Each team is entitled to play two innings in each match, and if the match is drawn, the winner is decided on the basis of the first innings lead.

• Two quarter-finals kick things off, with four teams fighting for a place in the semis.

• The winners join the two top-seeded zones in the semi-finals.

• The grand finale will be held between the winner teams of the semi-finals on mid-September.

Schedule And Venues 

The Duleep Trophy 2025 began with the quarter-final clash on August 28, 2025. Both the matches were held at the BCCI CEG Ground and CEG Ground B in Chennai, which provided consistent pitches and excellent facilities.

The semi-finals began on September 4, 2025, again at the same venues in Chennai. The iconic city has been the heart of domestic cricket in India for decades, and this year too, it is hosting the professional end of the competition.

The final is scheduled to be held at the BCCI CEG Ground from September 11 to 15, 2025, where a new champion will be crowned. The BCCI is ensuring a consistent schedule, pitch conditions and fewer challenges for the players by centralizing the matches in Chennai.

Squads Overview 

Each zonal squad is a mix of proven domestic performers and rising stars.

• North Zone: Their depth in batting, as seen from their second-innings 658/4 declared, makes them a serious contender.

• Central Zone: Their performance against North East Zone showed just how dangerous they can be.

• South Zone: Their massive 536 in the semi-final against North Zone reflected their strength at the crease.

• West Zone: Their first-innings total of 438 in the semi-final shows they have the firepower to go all the way.

• East Zone & North East Zone: They have exited in the quarter-finals, but both squads featured many young players.

Selectors will be watching these matches, as the performances here often turn into opportunities for India.

Duleep Trophy 2025: List of Matches 

Match Highlights So Far  

The tournament has already seen some exciting cricket. In the first quarter-final, North Zone scored huge scores of 405 and 658/4, showing the dominance of their batting unit. East Zone, despite their efforts, were all out for just 230 in their only innings. The match remained a draw, but North Zone advanced on the back of their huge first innings lead.

In the second quarter-final, Central Zone defeated North East Zone. Central’s batting prowess was on display again, with a score of 532/4 and a score of 331/7. Chasing an impossible 679, North East Zone fought valiantly but ended up on 185 and 200/6. Central Zone qualified for the semi-finals with a first innings lead.

The semi-finals began on 4 September. By the end of Day 3, North Zone had reached 90/2, still trailing by 446 runs. Meanwhile, in the second semi-final, West Zone had scored 438 runs, while Central Zone responded strongly with 323/5 by the end of Day 3. With both matches still to be played, a tight contest is expected in the final days.

What to Expect in the Final

As the semi-finals conclude, all eyes will be on the grand finale starting on September 11, 2025. Fans can expect:

• Runs in abundance, with pitches in Chennai offering true bounce and value for shots.

• Spinners to come into play as the matches progress into Day 4 and 5. Particularly in the final where pressure situations will test temperament.

• Tight contests, as the zonal rivalries always bring extra motivation.

With South, North, West, and Central Zones all showing strong performances, the final promises to be a mouthwatering contest.

Importance of the Duleep Trophy 

The Duleep Trophy has always been an important tournament in India’s domestic cricket calendar. It is often a stepping stone to international cricket. Many of India’s greatest cricketers, from Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev to Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli, have used the Duleep Trophy to showcase their skills.

The zonal format also ensures that players compete with and against teammates from different Ranji Trophy teams. This allows them to better adapt to the demands of international cricket.

For youngsters, scoring big runs or taking important wickets in the Duleep Trophy can be career-defining. For senior players, it reminds selectors of their continued relevance.

Conclusion

As the knockout stages begin in Chennai and the final match draws near, fans are gearing up for a feast of red-ball cricket. More than just a domestic tournament, the Duleep Trophy is a platform for the growth of Indian cricket. As the final draws near, excitement is building as to who will emerge as the champion of the 2025 edition.

FAQs: People Also Ask

Q1. When will the Duleep Trophy 2025 start?

The tournament is scheduled to begin in mid-August and end in early September.

Q2. In total, what are the number of teams are participating in Duleep Trophy this year?

As per the BCCI format, zonal teams (North, South, East, West, Central) will compete, which includes India A, B and C teams in 2025.

Q3. At which venue the Last or Final match of Duleep Trophy 2025 will be played?

The venue for the final will be announced by the BCCI closer to the start of the tournament, which will likely be held at a neutral venue.

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