Duleep Trophy 2026: North Zone Faces West Zone in 2nd Quarter-Final
West Zone is scheduled to take on North Zone in the second quarter-final of the Duleep Trophy 2026 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. The red-ball match begins on Sunday, August 23, featuring two competitive regional lineups competing across four days of domestic first-class cricket.
What Happened
The domestic schedule pits Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone against a North Zone squad captained by wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Both teams enter the knockout contest with balanced squads comprising experienced domestic performers and established pace and spin options.
West Zone boasts an accomplished top and middle order that includes Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, and Urvil Patel alongside captain Gaikwad. Their pace battery features Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and Mukesh Choudhary, while Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani handle the primary spin duties.
North Zone enters the fixture with Yash Dhull and Ayush Badoni, both of whom have shown strong form in recent red-ball matches. Badoni also delivered notable bowling contributions during the previous Ranji Trophy season. North Zone’s seam department will be led by Arshdeep Singh, assisted by Anshul Kamboj and Yudhvir Singh. However, the squad will be without Auqib Nabi due to national team commitments.
Key Highlights
- Fixture & Dates: Duleep Trophy 2026 2nd Quarter-Final, scheduled from August 23 to August 26, starting daily at 9:30 AM IST.
- Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru.
- Captains: Ruturaj Gaikwad leads West Zone, while Kanhaiya Wadhawan captains and keeps wickets for North Zone.
- Pitch Conditions: The average first-innings total at this venue in Indian first-class cricket stands at 348. The surface is expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, offering greater assistance to spin bowlers.
- Key Absences: North Zone will play without seamer Auqib Nabi, who is unavailable because of national duty.
- Broadcast & Streaming: Coverage will be provided via the Star Sports Network and streamed online on JioHotstar.
Why This Matters
The fixture marks an important stage in the Duleep Trophy 2026 tournament, offering players a vital red-ball platform to push for national and zonal recognition. With the historical average first-innings score at 348 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, winning the toss and establishing a substantial first-innings total is likely to be a decisive factor, especially given indications that the surface will crumble and assist slower bowlers in the latter half of the game.
What to Watch Next
Play is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM IST on August 23, 2026. Toss decisions and team selections will confirm the final playing elevens, particularly regarding how both sides structure their bowling attacks to adapt to expected wear on the Bengaluru pitch over the four days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the match taking place?
The second quarter-final between North Zone and West Zone is set for August 23-26, 2026, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru, with play commencing each day at 9:30 AM IST.
Who are the captains for both teams?
West Zone is captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad, and North Zone is led by wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan.
Where can viewers watch the live broadcast and streaming?
The match will be televised on the Star Sports Network and will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.
Why is Auqib Nabi missing for North Zone?
Auqib Nabi is unavailable for the match due to national duty.
Source: CricTracker