The Duleep Trophy 2025, India’s premier domestic red-ball tournament, is heating up as it enters the semi-final stage. With the quarter-finals wrapping up amid draws and dominant performances, the focus now shifts to the high-stakes clashes set to begin on September 4, 2025. This year’s edition, featuring six zonal teams, has seen a revamped format with two quarter-finals leading to semi-finals and a final. All matches are being hosted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds in Bengaluru, ensuring consistent conditions for the players. As the tournament progresses, several key player replacements due to injuries and international commitments have reshaped the squads, adding intrigue to the upcoming battles. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the latest updates, including fixtures, team changes, and key storylines.
Semi-Final Fixtures and Schedule
The semi-finals kick off simultaneously on September 4, 2025, and will run until September 7, 2025. Both matches are day games starting at 9:30 AM IST, played under the traditional first-class format. The winners will advance to the final, scheduled for September 11-15, 2025, also in Bengaluru.
- Semi-Final 1: South Zone vs North Zone
Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground A, Bengaluru
Date: September 4-7, 2025
This matchup pits the star-studded South Zone against a resilient North Zone, who advanced after a convincing quarter-final victory over East Zone. - Semi-Final 2: Central Zone vs West Zone
Venue: BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground B, Bengaluru
Date: September 4-7, 2025
Central Zone, who progressed via a first-innings lead in a drawn quarter-final against North East Zone, will face West Zone in what promises to be a clash of batting heavyweights.
The format this year included direct semi-final berths for South Zone and West Zone, while North Zone defeated East Zone in the first quarter-final, and Central Zone outplayed North East Zone in the second. Weather in Bengaluru is expected to be partly cloudy with a low chance of rain, potentially allowing for full four-day play.
Key Player Replacements and Squad Updates
Injuries and overlapping international commitments, particularly the Asia Cup 2025, have forced multiple changes across the zones. These adjustments have been announced by the BCCI in the lead-up to the semi-finals, ensuring teams remain competitive. Here’s a zone-wise breakdown:
South Zone
South Zone has been hit hardest by absences, leading to leadership changes and reinforcements in batting and bowling.
- Tilak Varma (batter) is out due to Asia Cup commitments. Andhra’s top-order batter Shaik Rasheed has been drafted in as his replacement.
- With Varma’s departure, Kerala’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen has been appointed as the new captain, bringing his aggressive style to the helm.
- R Sai Kishore (left-arm spinner) is sidelined with a finger injury. Pondicherry’s left-arm orthodox spin all-rounder Ankit Sharma steps in, adding depth to the spin department.
- In a late blow, Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak has been ruled out due to injury and not being cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Fellow Karnataka seamer Vasuki Koushik replaces him, bolstering the pace attack.
Central Zone
Central Zone advances with a strong batting lineup but has had to make adjustments in wicketkeeping and spin.
- Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper-batter) is out with a groin injury. Uttar Pradesh’s WK-batter Upendra Yadav replaces him, ensuring stability behind the stumps.
- Kuldeep Yadav (spinner) is unavailable due to Asia Cup duties. Pacer Yash Thakur comes in as his replacement, shifting focus to seam options.
- Rajat Patidar remains captain, providing continuity in leadership.
West Zone
West Zone, entering directly into the semi-finals, has one major change in their batting order.
- Sarfaraz Khan (batter) is ruled out with a quadriceps injury. Baroda’s batter Shivalik Sharma replaces him, adding fresh talent to the middle order.
North Zone
North Zone’s pace attack, a key factor in their quarter-final dominance, faces a shake-up as Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh are set to leave for the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.
Replacements:
Anuj Thakral (Haryana) steps in for Harshit Rana. Thakral, a right-arm seamer, adds depth to the bowling unit with his ability to swing the ball.
Gurnoor Brar (Punjab) replaces Arshdeep Singh. Brar, a tall right-arm pacer, brings raw pace and bounce, having impressed in domestic circuits.
Telecast and Broadcast Details
In response to fan outrage over the lack of live coverage for the initial rounds, the BCCI has confirmed that only the final will be telecast live. Semi-finals will not be broadcast on television or major streaming platforms, though live scores and updates will be available on the BCCI website, ESPNcricinfo, and Cricbuzz. BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized an existing agreement limiting coverage but assured fans of the final’s availability.
As the action unfolds, these semi-finals could shape the domestic season and influence national selections. Stay tuned for live updates as India’s future stars battle for zonal supremacy.
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