Duleep Trophy 2026: Top 3 wicket-takers

The Duleep Trophy 2026 concluded on September 10, 2026, with East Zone lifting the title on the basis of their first-innings lead over South Zone in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The 2026-27 edition featured six zones: North, South, East, West, Central, and North East Zone, but it was the Ishan Kishan-led side that thumped Tilak Varma’s South in the final at the Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru to lift the prestigious silverware. 

Like most tournaments, bowlers had a major say on the outcome of the zonal competition, with pacers dominating the wicket-taking tally. Bowlers played a central role throughout the tournament, with several spinners and seamers making their mark across the zonal fixtures.

Here are top 3 wicket-takers of the Duleep Trophy 2026:

3. Abhijit Sarkar

Abhijit Sarkar of East Zone finished the Duleep Trophy 2026 with 10 wickets to his name. His bowling average across the tournament stood at 13.20, reflecting his consistency with the ball throughout the competition.

His best bowling figures of 5/20 were the finest of the entire Duleep Trophy 2026. Sarkar’s haul was a key contribution as East Zone went on to win the title. He also has an impressive first-class record, having played 53 matches and 82 innings, in which he has taken 128 wickets at an average of 30.93. His best bowling figures are 5/18, while his best match figures stand at 7/121.

2. Abid Mushtaq

Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq represented North Zone and picked up 12 wickets across the tournament, making him one of the joint-leading wicket-takers. He played two games, claiming those wickets across four innings at a strike rate of 39.08.

His bowling average for the tournament was 16.25, and his best figures of 5/39 came against West Zone. North Zone defeated West Zone by 67 runs and advanced to the semi-finals, with Mushtaq’s five-wicket haul proving decisive in that contest.

1. Mukesh Kumar

India Seamer Mukesh Kumar of East Zone finished as the top-ranked wicket-taker of the Duleep Trophy 2026, sharing the lead of 12 wickets with Abid Mushtaq. Across three games and five innings, Kumar claimed those wickets at a bowling average of 14.91 and a strike rate of 29.50.

His best figures of 4/44 came against Central Zone. Kumar’s lower average and strike rate compared to Mushtaq give him the statistical edge for the number one position, and his efforts were central to East Zone’s title-winning campaign.