5 players who impressed in Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-finals

The 2026-27 Duleep Trophy semi-finals were played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 30. Central Zone faced East Zone on Ground 1, while North Zone took on South Zone on Ground 2 in the second semi-final.

East Zone won the first semi-final by four wickets, with both sides scoring 266 in the first innings before 13 wickets fell on a dramatic third day. South Zone were equally dominant in the second semi-final, winning by seven wickets. The two sides will now meet in the final at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, scheduled from September 6 to 10, 2026.

5. Abhimanyu Easwaran

Abhimanyu Easwaran played a key role in East Zone’s first-innings effort, scoring 69 in testing conditions in the first innings and adding a crucial 161-run opening stand with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He added 24 in the second innings as East Zone chased down 159 to reach the final. His first-innings contribution was one of the more measured knocks in a match where both sides were tied on 266 after the opening innings.

4. Harsh Dubey

Harsh Dubey was Central Zone’s standout performer with the ball across both innings of the first semi-final. The left-arm spinner took 4/66 in East Zone’s first innings and followed that up with 4/53 in the second. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 27 in the first innings and 24 in the second, making him a genuine all-round performer for his side despite Central Zone’s exit.

3. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the most explosive batter in the first semi-final. He struck 92 off 81 balls in East Zone’s first innings, hitting seven fours and seven sixes. In the second innings, he added 40 off 43 balls, including three fours and two sixes, to help East Zone cross the line with four wickets in hand. On a surface where batting wasn’t very easy, Sooryavanshi made light work of the Central Zone bowling attack.

2. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar was named Player of the Match in the first semi-final between Central Zone and East Zone. The Bengal pacer took 3/56 in the first innings and followed it up with 4/44 in the second, finishing as the most effective bowler in the match. He outperformed senior pro Mohammed Shami in both innings. Mukesh’s accuracy was impeccable, and he will be one of the key players for East Zone in the summit clash.

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1. Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma led South Zone from the front in the second semi-final against North Zone. The South Zone captain scored an unbeaten 116 in the first innings and remained not out on 51 in the second essay as his side chased down 181 to win by seven wickets. His back-to-back unbeaten knocks were central to South Zone’s comfortable victory.

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