Duleep Trophy (India) 2023/24

The Duleep Trophy is a premier first-class cricket competition in India, established during the 1961–62 season by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Named after the Indian cricketer Duleepsinhji, the tournament sits within the Indian domestic pyramid as a key preparatory event for the national Test side.

Currently, the field consists of six teams representing geographical zones: North Zone, Central Zone, North East Zone, West Zone, South Zone, and East Zone. The North East Zone was added to the competition in 2022–23. Players are selected by Zonal Selection Committees to form composite squads drawn from state associations within their respective regions.

The tournament format has evolved significantly over time. Historically a knockout event, the 2024–25 edition experimented with a round-robin structure featuring four teams (India A, B, C, D) selected by national selectors. However, the 2025–26 and 2026–27 editions reverted to the traditional zonal setup with a knockout structure involving quarter-finals and semi-finals.

West Zone stands as the most successful team with 19 titles, followed closely by North Zone with 18. In the 2025–26 season, Central Zone secured the current championship by defeating South Zone in the final. Individual records include Raman Lamba’s highest individual score of 320, Wasim Jaffer’s record for most runs (2,545), and Debasis Mohanty’s best bowling figures of 10/46 in an innings.

Unlike state-based championships, the Duleep Trophy does not feature promotion or relegation. Its primary function has been to mix the best players from different states within zones to increase competitiveness and serve as a trial for national selection, a purpose reinforced by recent reforms before returning to the zonal format.