East Zone will face South Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, starting on Sunday, September 6. The last time East Zone and South Zone played against each other in a Duleep Trophy final was 55 years ago during the 1970–71 season, when South Zone won by 10 wickets.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has moved the final from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to Chennai. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has also allowed free entry for spectators through Gate 4 to encourage fans to attend the domestic cricket showpiece.
East Zone defeated North East Zone in their quarter-final by an innings and 210 runs. Ishan Kishan then guided East Zone into their first final since the 2012-13 season after they beat defending champions Central Zone by four wickets in a closely fought semifinal.
South Zone earned a direct spot in the semifinals based on their strong performances in the previous domestic season. The team, led by Tilak Varma, defeated North Zone by seven wickets after taking a big first-innings lead. Varma scored an unbeaten century to anchor the successful chase.
EZONE vs SZONE Match Preview & Recent Form
East Zone will enter the final with strong confidence after beating defending champions Central Zone in the semifinal. Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 40 runs during the chase and handled the pressure in the longer format despite his reputation as an aggressive white-ball batter.
Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar led East Zone’s bowling attack in the semifinal, combining for 12 wickets. Shami will also make his 100th first-class appearance in the final. His experience, along with Mukesh’s ability to move the ball, gives East Zone a strong pace attack.
South Zone will rely on a strong batting lineup, with Devdutt Padikkal adding further depth to the side. Tilak Varma impressed in the semifinal against North Zone, scoring an unbeaten 116 in the first innings and following it with an unbeaten 51 during the chase.
South Zone also have a strong bowling unit, led by MD Nidheesh. The pacer claimed a five-wicket haul against North Zone. With Varma leading from the front and several experienced players in the squad, South Zone will look to finish the tournament with the Duleep Trophy title.
EZONE vs SZONE Live Streaming, Live Telecast: Where To Watch Duleep Trophy 2026 Final?
Cricket fans across India can watch the live streaming of the East Zone vs South Zone Duleep Trophy 2026 final on the JioHotstar app and website. The five-day final in Chennai will begin at 9:30 AM IST each day, and fans can follow the action from the opening session.
The Duleep Trophy 2026 final will also be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India. Viewers can tune in to Star Sports to watch experienced players and emerging domestic talents battle for the prestigious first-class title.
EZONE vs SZONE Pitch Report: How Will M.A. Chidambaram Stadium Play?
The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is likely to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball in the Duleep Trophy final. Fast bowlers could get some seam movement and bounce early in the day.
Spinners are expected to become more effective in the last two days. Dry patches and footmarks could help bowlers generate more turn and variable bounce, especially from the third day onwards.
Batting could become harder as the match progresses, making a strong first-innings total important. The team that wins the toss could prefer to bat first and put runs on the board before the pitch starts to deteriorate.
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium Test Stats
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Total Matches: 37
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Won Batting First: 14
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Won Bowling First: 10
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Average 1st Innings Score: 348
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Average 2nd Innings Score: 332
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Average 3rd Innings Score: 245
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Average 4th Innings Score: 157
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Highest Team Total: 759/7 decl (India vs England)
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Lowest Team Total: 83 (India vs England)
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Highest Score Chased: 387/4 (India vs England)
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Lowest Score Defended: 171 (India vs Australia)
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Highest Individual Score: 319 (Virender Sehwag vs South Africa, 2008)
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Most Wickets in an Innings: 8/55 (Vinoo Mankad vs England, 1952)
EZONE vs SZONE Weather Forecast & Rain Threat at Chepauk
Chennai is expected to remain hot and humid throughout the final. The forecast shows daytime temperatures between 35°C and 36°C. Such conditions could make long bowling spells challenging for the players.
Rain could also play a role during the final, with afternoon showers or thunderstorms forecast on several days. The chance of rain ranges from 55% to 72%, while the forecast indicates around one to 1.5 hours of precipitation on some days. Teams may therefore need to prepare for possible interruptions.
EZONE vs SZONE Team News & Injury Updates
South Zone have added Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj to their squad. Vidwath Kaverappa was ruled out with an injury. Siraj will look to regain his rhythm ahead of India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand. KL Rahul is also part of the squad but had not joined the team before the final.
East Zone captain Ishan Kishan will lead the side and keep wickets in the final. He will also look to gain valuable match practice before India’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
EZONE vs SZONE Predicted Playing 11 Today
East Zone Predicted Playing XI:
Abhimanyu Easwaran, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kumar Kushagra, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Ishan Kishan (c & wk), Virat Singh, Md Kounain Quraishi, Anukul Roy, Abhijit K Sarkar, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar
South Zone Predicted Playing XI:
Ricky Bhui, Devdutt Padikkal, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Shaik Rasheed, Tilak Varma (c), Smaran Ravichandran, Shreyas Gopal, Mohammed Siraj, Kavuri Saiteja, Tanay Thyagarajan, MD Nidheesh
EZONE vs SZONE Key Player Battles to Watch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Mohammed Siraj:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed good composure against Central Zone, scoring 92 in the first innings and 40 in the chase. Mohammed Siraj will test the young opener with pace, movement and short-pitched deliveries.
Devdutt Padikkal vs Mukesh Kumar:
Devdutt Padikkal will be one of South Zone’s key batters at the top of the order. Mukesh Kumar will look to challenge him with tight lines and movement outside the off stump.
Tilak Varma vs Mohammed Shami:
Tilak Varma will enter the final after scoring an unbeaten 116 in the semifinal against North Zone. Mohammed Shami has the ability to generate movement. Varma will need to remain patient against Shami, particularly when the ball starts to reverse.
Key Players to Watch
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East Zone: Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
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South Zone: Tilak Varma, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohammed Siraj
Duleep Trophy 2026 Final Prediction
South Zone to win the Duleep Trophy
Probability:
South Zone: 60%
East Zone: 40%
Key Reasons:
- Stronger bowling attack: Mohammed Siraj’s inclusion gives South Zone a major edge, especially in Chennai conditions.
- Tilak Varma’s form: Tilak smashed an unbeaten 116 in the semifinal and followed it with another unbeaten fifty, making him South Zone’s biggest batting threat.
Also read: Ishan Kishan backs Mohammed Shami for India comeback ahead of Duleep Trophy 2026 final
