This is only the second time East and South will meet in a Duleep Trophy final. East Zone and South Zone will lock horns in the final of the Duleep Trophy 2026, commencing Sunday, September 6, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The previous meeting was in 1970-71 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Notably, the BCCI moved the final from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to Chepauk so spectators can attend. Chepauk last hosted a Duleep Trophy final in 2012. Fixture East Zone vs South Zone, Duleep Trophy 2026 Final Road To The Duleep Trophy Final East Zone, captained by Ishan Kishan, beat defending champions Central Zone by four wickets in the first semi-final. Set 159, they got there with a day to spare. South Zone captain Tilak Varma produced a masterclass in the semifinal against North Zone, anchoring the side with an unbeaten 116 in the first innings and striking an unbeaten 51 in the second-innings chase of 181. MD Nidheesh’s decisive five-wicket haul (5/56) on Day 4 curtailed North Zone’s lower order to seal a 7-wicket victory.
