Duleep Trophy: Quick Facts at a Glance
| Tournament Name | Duleep Trophy |
| Named After | Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji (Duleep), former England and Sussex cricketer |
| First Season | 1961–62 |
| Inaugural Champion | West Zone (1961–62) |
| Latest Champion | Central Zone (2025 edition) |
| Most Titles | West Zone — 19 titles |
| Format | First-class cricket; zonal teams (knockout format in recent editions) |
| Governing Body | Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) |
| Original Zones | North, South, East, West, Central (five zones) |
| Current Format | Six zones — North, South, East, West, Central, North East (knockout since 2022) |
Introduction: India's Premier Zonal First-Class Tournament
Indian domestic cricket is built on a rich ecosystem of tournaments — the Ranji Trophy for state supremacy, the Irani Cup for the champion-vs-Rest clash, the Vijay Hazare Trophy for one-day honours, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for T20 pride. Among them, the Duleep Trophy occupies a unique place: it is the tournament where zones, not states, do battle, and where selection for the Indian Test team has historically been shaped by performances against the best domestic talent of one's era.
Named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji — the nephew of the great Ranjitsinhji (after whom the Ranji Trophy is named), and himself a stylish batsman who played for England in the 1930s — the Duleep Trophy began in the 1961–62 season as a first-class competition among five zonal teams: North, South, East, West and Central. For over six decades, it has served as the bridge between the Ranji Trophy and international cricket — the tournament where national selectors go to watch players perform against the strongest possible domestic opposition.
The tournament has also been remarkably adaptive. Over the years it has experimented with formats — league-cum-knockout, knockout only, guest international teams (England, Sri Lanka Board XI, Zimbabwe Board XI), the short-lived Elite/Plate group structure of the 2000s, the three-team "India Red/Green/Blue" colour format of 2016–2019, and the current six-zone knockout structure that now includes a North East Zone. Through every reinvention, one constant has remained: lifting the Duleep Trophy is a mark of zonal pride and a springboard to higher honours. For more sports current affairs, see our Weekly Current Affairs One-Liner series and the Barristery current affairs portal.
History and Evolution of the Duleep Trophy
The Early Years (1961–62 to 1990s): Zonal Supremacy
The tournament was instituted in 1961 to give Indian cricketers high-quality first-class competition beyond the Ranji Trophy. In its classic format, the five zonal teams — selected by zonal selectors from the Ranji teams within their region — played each other, with the title decided either on a league basis or through knockouts depending on the season. The early decades were dominated overwhelmingly by West Zone, whose batting riches — from the likes of Dilip Sardesai and Sunil Gavaskar to Ravi Shastri and later Sachin Tendulkar — made them the tournament's defining dynasty. South Zone, powered by Karnataka, Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu stalwarts, emerged as the other early powerhouse, while North Zone built a proud record through the 1980s and 1990s.
The Guest Era (2003–04 to 2008): An International Flavour
In 2003–04, the BCCI added a sixth team — a guest international side — to spice up the competition. England A, a Sri Lanka Board XI, and a Zimbabwe Board XI were among the invitees in different seasons. The experiment produced a historic result in 2007–08, when England A (listed as "England" in official records) won the title — the only time a non-Indian team has lifted the Duleep Trophy.
The Colour Format (2016–17 to 2018–19): India Red, Green and Blue
From 2016–17, coinciding with the introduction of pink-ball day-night experiments, the BCCI replaced zonal teams with three mixed squads — India Red, India Green and India Blue — selected by the national selectors to create evenly matched teams. India Red won three of the four editions in this period. While the format diluted the traditional zonal identity, it produced high-quality contests and gave selectors a direct comparison of players in balanced sides.
Return to Zones and the Knockout Era (2022–Present)
After the COVID-disrupted seasons, the Duleep Trophy returned to its zonal roots in 2022 — this time as a six-team knockout, with the new North East Zone joining the traditional five. In a further revamp, the 2024 edition was played as a four-team competition among India A, India B, India C and India D, functioning as a direct Test-selection trial ahead of a packed international season; India A won that edition. The tournament then returned to the six-zone knockout format in 2025, with Central Zone defeating South Zone in the final to claim the title.
Duleep Trophy Winners List: 1961–62 to 2025 (Season by Season)
Below is the complete, season-wise roll of honour, as recorded in the official history of the competition.
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1961–62 | West Zone |
| 1962–63 | West Zone |
| 1963–64 | West Zone and South Zone (shared) |
| 1964–65 | West Zone |
| 1965–66 | South Zone |
| 1966–67 | South Zone |
| 1967–68 | South Zone |
| 1968–69 | West Zone |
| 1969–70 | West Zone |
| 1970–71 | South Zone |
| 1971–72 | Central Zone |
| 1972–73 | West Zone |
| 1973–74 | North Zone |
| 1974–75 | South Zone |
| 1975–76 | South Zone |
| 1976–77 | West Zone |
| 1977–78 | West Zone |
| 1978–79 | North Zone |
| 1979–80 | North Zone |
| 1980–81 | West Zone |
| 1981–82 | West Zone |
| 1982–83 | North Zone |
| 1983–84 | North Zone |
| 1984–85 | South Zone |
| 1985–86 | West Zone |
| 1986–87 | South Zone |
| 1987–88 | North Zone |
| 1988–89 | North Zone and West Zone (shared) |
| 1989–90 | South Zone |
| 1990–91 | North Zone |
| 1991–92 | North Zone |
| 1992–93 | North Zone |
| 1993–94 | North Zone |
| 1994–95 | South Zone |
| 1995–96 | South Zone |
| 1996–97 | Central Zone |
| 1997–98 | West Zone and Central Zone (shared) |
| 1998–99 | Central Zone |
| 1999–00 | North Zone |
| 2000–01 | North Zone |
| 2001–02 | West Zone |
| 2002–03 | West Zone |
| 2003–04 | North Zone |
| 2004–05 | Central Zone |
| 2005–06 | West Zone |
| 2006–07 | North Zone |
| 2007–08 | England (guest team) |
| 2008–09 | West Zone |
| 2009–10 | West Zone |
| 2010–11 | South Zone |
| 2011–12 | East Zone |
| 2012–13 | East Zone |
| 2013–14 | South Zone and North Zone (shared) |
| 2014–15 | Central Zone |
| 2016–17 | India Blue |
| 2017–18 | India Red |
| 2018–19 | India Blue |
| 2019–20 | India Red |
| 2022 | West Zone |
| 2023 | South Zone |
| 2024 | India A |
| 2025 | Central Zone |
Zone-Wise Titles: Who Has Won the Duleep Trophy Most Often?
| Rank | Team / Zone | Titles | Dominant Eras |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Zone | 19 | 1960s–80s, 2000s; champions again in 2022 |
| 2 | North Zone | 18 | Late 1980s–early 1990s (four consecutive titles 1990–94) |
| 3 | South Zone | 13 | Mid-1960s, mid-1980s, 2010s–2023 |
| 4 | Central Zone | 6 | Late 1990s–2000s; champions in 2025 |
| 5 | India Blue / India Red (colour format) | 2 each | 2016–2020 period |
| 6 | East Zone | 2 | Back-to-back titles 2011–13 |
| 7 | England (guest), India A | 1 each | 2007–08 and 2024 respectively |
The headline is unmistakable: West Zone is the most successful team in Duleep Trophy history with 19 titles, built on the batting factories of Mumbai and its fellow western associations. North Zone follows with 18 titles, including a famous streak of four consecutive championships from 1990–91 to 1993–94. South Zone's 13 titles reflect the consistent strength of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad cricket. Central Zone's 2025 triumph — defeating the formidable South Zone in the final — took their tally to six, while East Zone's back-to-back wins in 2011–12 and 2012–13 remain a golden chapter for eastern cricket, powered by the likes of Bengal and Odisha performers of that generation.
The 2025 Final: Central Zone's Triumph
The most recent completed edition, played in the six-zone knockout format, culminated in a high-quality final between Central Zone and South Zone. South Zone — stacked with talent from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Hyderabad and Andhra — entered as favourites and 2023 champions, but Central Zone produced a disciplined all-round performance to lift the trophy, their first title since 2014–15. The victory underlined the depth of cricketing talent in the central states — Madhya Pradesh (recent Ranji champions), Vidarbha (multiple-time Ranji winners), Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — and continued the tournament's proud tradition of forecasting India's next Test stars.
Why the Duleep Trophy Matters: Significance in Indian Cricket
A Selection Crucible
For decades, a big Duleep Trophy season has been the fastest route into the Indian Test side. The 2024 edition — played as India A/B/C/D — was explicitly designed as a selection trial, and players who shone there went on to feature in India's Test squad discussions through the season.
First-Class Quality
Because zonal teams draw the best performers from multiple Ranji sides, the Duleep Trophy offers the highest standard of domestic first-class cricket in India — a genuine bridge between Ranji-level and international-level intensity.
Zonal Identity and Pride
Unlike franchise cricket, the Duleep Trophy carries regional identity: a Mumbaikar plays alongside a Saurashtrian for West Zone; a Bengali alongside an Odia for East Zone. It remains Indian cricket's purest expression of zonal rivalry.
A Laboratory of Innovation
From guest international teams to pink-ball day-night matches to the India-colour squads, the Duleep Trophy has been the BCCI's testing ground for ideas that later entered mainstream domestic cricket.
Records and Notable Performances
The Duleep Trophy's record books are studded with legendary names. Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath piled up mountains of runs for West and South Zone respectively in the 1970s; Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli sustained West Zone's batting dominance into the 1990s; Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman turned South Zone games into selection auditions; and more recently, the tournament has showcased the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan. Multi-hundred knocks, five-wicket hauls in finals, and last-innings escapes in drawn shared-title finals (2013–14 being a classic) are woven into the tournament's folklore.
Some key structural records worth remembering for exams: West Zone's 19 titles are the most by any team; North Zone's four consecutive titles (1990–91 to 1993–94) are the longest winning streak; England A (2007–08) remain the only foreign team to win the tournament; and four finals have ended in shared titles due to draws.
Format Through the Years: A Comparative View
| Period | Format | Teams | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–62 to 2002–03 | Zonal league / knockout | 5 zones | Classic era; West Zone dynasty established |
| 2003–04 to 2008–09 | Zonal + guest team | 5 zones + 1 guest | England A's historic 2007–08 title |
| 2009–10 to 2014–15 | Zonal knockout (Elite/Plate in some years) | 5 zones | East Zone's back-to-back titles (2011–13) |
| 2016–17 to 2019–20 | Three-team colour format | India Red, Green, Blue | Pink-ball experiments; India Red won 2 titles |
| 2022–2023 | Six-zone knockout | 5 zones + North East Zone | West Zone (2022), South Zone (2023) champions |
| 2024 | Four-team selection format | India A, B, C, D | India A champions; Test-selection trial |
| 2025 | Six-zone knockout (restored) | 6 zones | Central Zone champions, beating South Zone in the final |
Exam Angle: High-Probability Questions from the Duleep Trophy
What Examiners Love to Ask
Static GK: First season (1961–62), inaugural winner (West Zone), namesake (Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji — nephew of Ranjitsinhji), most successful team (West Zone, 19 titles), only foreign winner (England A, 2007–08), the six current zones including North East Zone, and the distinction between Duleep (zonal), Ranji (state) and Irani (Ranji champion vs Rest of India) trophies. Current affairs: 2025 champions (Central Zone, beating South Zone in the final), 2024 champions (India A), 2023 champions (South Zone), and 2022 champions (West Zone). Trick alerts: the tournament is named after Duleepsinhji, NOT Ranjitsinhji; the 2007–08 winner is recorded as "England" (England A); and four seasons saw shared titles.
Cricket GK is a recurring feature in SSC, Banking, Railways and state-level exams, and the Duleep Trophy winners list is among the most frequently quizzed domestic-cricket topics. Revise it alongside our Weekly Current Affairs (9th–16th August 2026) and Weekly Current Affairs One Liners (6th–12th July 2026) editions, which carry the latest sports updates including FPAI football awards, Asian Games squad news and more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who has won the most Duleep Trophy titles?
West Zone, with 19 titles, is the most successful team in Duleep Trophy history, followed by North Zone (18) and South Zone (13).
Who won the Duleep Trophy in 2025?
Central Zone won the 2025 edition, defeating South Zone in the final of the six-zone knockout tournament.
When was the first Duleep Trophy played and who won it?
The first edition was played in the 1961–62 season, and it was won by West Zone.
After whom is the Duleep Trophy named?
It is named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, the former England and Sussex cricketer — and the nephew of K.S. Ranjitsinhji, after whom the Ranji Trophy is named.
Has any foreign team won the Duleep Trophy?
Yes. In 2007–08, the guest side England A (recorded as "England" in the winners list) won the title — the only non-Indian team to do so.
Which teams contested the 2024 Duleep Trophy?
The 2024 edition was played in a special four-team format among India A, India B, India C and India D; India A emerged champions.
How many zones currently play the Duleep Trophy?
Six — North, South, East, West, Central and North East Zone — since the knockout format was introduced in 2022.
How is the Duleep Trophy different from the Ranji Trophy?
The Ranji Trophy is contested by state and regional teams, while the Duleep Trophy is contested by zonal teams drawn from the best players of each region. The Irani Cup, meanwhile, pits the Ranji champion against a Rest of India side.
Conclusion
From the batting majesty of West Zone in the 1960s to Central Zone's triumph in 2025, the Duleep Trophy's winners list is a compressed history of Indian first-class cricket itself. Sixty-four seasons, nine different champions, four shared titles, one foreign winner, and countless careers launched — few domestic tournaments anywhere in the world can match that legacy. As the competition moves into its 2026 season and beyond, its role as Indian cricket's premier selection crucible remains undiminished. Bookmark this page for the updated winners list after every edition, and keep your sports GK sharp with Barristery.in.
Duleep Trophy Winners List 1961–2026 West Zone 19 Titles Central Zone 2025 Indian Domestic Cricket Sports GK Current Affairs 2026
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