South Zone booked their place in the Duleep Trophy final with a dominant seven-wicket win over North Zone in Bengaluru on Wednesday, wrapping up the chase with plenty of time to spare.
India's Test vice-captain K L Rahul will miss the Duleep Trophy final for South Zone, as confirmed by skipper Tilak Varma.
East Zone pacers Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar chipped away at the wickets to leave South Zone tottering on 242/6 at stumps on Day 3, of the Duleep Trophy final.
Captain Tilak Varma's unbeaten 106 and Shreyas Gopal's 87 helped South Zone secure a vital 90-run first-innings lead against North Zone in their Duleep Trophy semifinal, overcoming an early collapse.
Kaverappa's four-wicket haul gave South Zone control before they stumbled, while Mukesh and Sarkar struck three each to bowl Central Zone out, giving East Zone a strong start.
Karun Nair, despite scoring a century in a local tournament, was controversially excluded from the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy final. This decision has drawn attention given South Zone's struggles against East Zone. Coach Vikram Verma cited team combination and "personal reasons" for Nair's absence, but his subsequent participation in another match suggests deeper issues.
Goa's Abhinav Tejrana has been named in the South Zone squad for the prestigious Duleep Trophy, making him the only cricketer from Goa to achieve this distinction this year, a selection attributed to his consistent high-scoring performances in recent seasons.
Ishan Kishan, after scoring an epic 270 in the Duleep Trophy final, revealed that freeing his mind from overthinking and expectations has been crucial to his recent success. He emphasised focusing solely on scoring runs and winning matches, a change that came after a turbulent phase in his career, including losing his BCCI central contract. Kishan highlighted the importance of domestic cricket for reflection and growth, enabling him to return stronger.
Kerala emerged as the overall champions at the Asmita Khelo India Women's League South Zone Track Cycling Championship, held in Karyavattom, securing a total of 35 medals. Tamil Nadu finished as runners-up, followed by Karnataka and Telangana.
Ishan Kishan top-scored with a splendid knock of 270 to power East Zone to a mammoth first innings total of 708 in their first innings on Day 2 against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final.
East Zone were crowned Duleep Trophy champions after the final against South Zone ended in a draw in Chennai, with their first-innings lead proving decisive.
Azharuddeen was the vice-captain of the side, and now that role has been handed to Tamil Nadu's N Jagadeesan.
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten century put East Zone firmly in control as they ended Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final on 385/4.
North Zone secured their spot in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals by defeating West Zone by 52 runs in a thrilling quarter-final match in Bengaluru. Left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu were instrumental in polishing off the West Zone tail on the final day.
Tilak Varma was in fine touch for Hampshire recently, smashing 100, 56, 47 and 112 in four innings for the English county side.
North Zone's Sanat Sangwan scored a resilient 76, putting aside earlier controversies, as his team fought back against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final. Despite Sangwan's efforts and a partnership with Ayush Doseja, North Zone suffered a batting collapse, leaving South Zone poised for victory. South Zone holds a significant lead, needing only a draw to advance to the final.
During the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, South Zone captain Tilak Varma showed frustration towards 15-year-old East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amidst a strong opening partnership by East Zone. The exchange, which included Varma reportedly calling Sooryavanshi "Kya yaar ye vice captain," added drama to the highly anticipated match.
Gurnoor Brar has joined North Zone for the Duleep Trophy semifinal, with selectors using the opportunity to boost the India pacer's red-ball exposure ahead of New Zealand Tests.
Narayan Jagadeesan blended caution with aggression in right proportions during his undefeated knock of 148 as South Zone were comfortably placed at 297 for three against North Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI-CEG ground in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave Tilak Varma a taste of his sledging medicine, sparking a heated exchange that caught the attention of umpires and fans alike.
Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj have joined South Zone for the Duleep Trophy final, while Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan could feature before India's Afghanistan series.
The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone will feature a mix of rising talents like Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, alongside established players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami. Players will be looking to impress selectors for upcoming national assignments, with Padikkal aiming to continue his red-ball form and Siraj seeking to regain rhythm. The match also marks Shami's 100th first-class game.
Veteran Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami is set to play his 100th first-class match, leading East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai.
What should have been a top-draw domestic red-ball clash to kick off the new season featuring some of India's Test stars has quickly turned into a lopsided contest, courtesy of a lifeless pitch heavily loaded in favour of the batters.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has suspended a Deputy Commissioner and four engineers from the South Zone following the collapse of a five-storey building in Satya Niketan, which resulted in seven deaths. The suspensions were issued by the MCD Vigilance Department under disciplinary proceedings.
Ishan Kishan continued his impressive form in crucial matches by scoring his maiden first-class double century, a blistering 250 off 301 balls, for East Zone against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final before retiring hurt due to cramps.
Tilak Varma has set his sights on winning India's upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan after the Duleep Trophy, where he led South Zone.
The Duleep Trophy reaches its semifinal stage with defending champions Central Zone and last year's runners-up South Zone receiving direct entry. They will face East Zone and North Zone, respectively, who advanced after winning their quarterfinal matches. The upcoming clashes promise intense competition as teams battle for a spot in the final.
Following East Zone's Duleep Trophy victory, Captain Ishan Kishan lauded Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising his positive influence on and off the field.
Veteran Indian cricketers KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Devdutt Padikkal have been asked to play in the Duleep Trophy final for South Zone against East Zone. The participation of other T20I players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Ishan Kishan depends on Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir's approval. Additionally, chief selector Ajit Agarkar will attend the final, and the BCCI is arranging visas for net bowlers for the Asian Games.
Ishan Kishan made another strong red-ball statement with 80 after his 270, as East Zone moved within touching distance of the Duleep Trophy title.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan sustained a back sprain during India's net session in New Delhi after being hit by a short delivery from Navdeep Saini. The injury forced him to leave practice, and his fitness will be assessed over the next 24 hours, raising concerns for the team.
Tilak Varma, despite his white-ball success, expresses a strong desire to play Test cricket for India, considering red-ball cricket his true strength. He discusses the challenges of balancing international white-ball commitments with domestic red-ball opportunities and his eagerness to participate in the Duleep Trophy final amidst a tight schedule.
The Delhi Billiards & Snooker Association (DBSA) has announced a new format for the Delhi State 15-Red Snooker Championship, which will now be held in memory of Raja Randhir Singh. The championship will feature a zonal qualification system leading to a 16-player main draw and offers a total prize money of Rs. 3 lakh.
Indian cricketers Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan discuss the challenges of transitioning directly from the Duleep Trophy final to the T20I series against Afghanistan. Both players emphasise the importance of adaptability and professionalism in managing the demanding schedule and format changes, while also highlighting key player additions to their respective Duleep Trophy teams.
Seven people died in the collapse of a Satya Niketan PG building near Delhi University's South Campus, which reportedly had chronic water seepage and lacked structural columns and beams. Police have arrested the PG owners and are investigating a labour contractor. The incident has led to the suspension of MCD officials, city-wide building inspections, and a Delhi High Court inquiry into the tragedy.
Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami will be felicitated by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for completing 100 first-class matches. The felicitation will take place in Chennai ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, recognising his significant domestic career achievements and his ongoing efforts to return to the national team.
Ishan Kishan's stunning 2026 has thrown him into India's 2027 ODI World Cup plans -- and Rishabh Pant could be the biggest casualty. With the selectors already looking ahead to South Africa, Kishan's red-hot form has turned the wicket-keeper debate on its head.
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan has lauded veteran pacer Mohammed Shami's unwavering hunger and motivation to make a comeback to the Indian cricket team. Shami's impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy semifinal, where he took five wickets, has convinced Kishan that age is just a number when it comes to the 36-year-old's drive to succeed.
Mukesh Kumar, the Bengal pacer, has delivered an impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy, taking 11 wickets and expressing the critical importance of the ongoing domestic season for his potential India comeback. He detailed his strategic bowling approach on challenging pitches and the team's tactics for managing the hot conditions, while also providing an update on teammate Anukul Roy's injury.
