BCCI Selectors Evaluate Talent During Duleep Trophy Matches

The BCCI selectors are actively scouting talent at the Duleep Trophy semifinals in Bengaluru. With the North Zone facing off against the South Zone, and East Zone having already secured a spot in the final, the selectors are keenly observing players ahead of crucial international fixtures. Key performances from players like Tilak Verma and Mohammed Shami are drawing attention as the competition heats up. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting cricket tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 2, 2026, 14:34 IST

BCCI Selectors Observe Duleep Trophy Matches

Members of the men's selection committee for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), including Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra, and Shiv Sundar Das, are currently in Bengaluru to watch the Duleep Trophy matches.

As the semifinal between North Zone and South Zone unfolds, Ojha shared a photo of the selectors on his Instagram, noting, "There are many discussions, but there's always time for a smile #duleeptrophy #coe #bengaluru #menatwork." The specific match they were observing at the time of the photo remains unknown.

The selectors are likely assessing players ahead of the upcoming away Tests against New Zealand in November-December and the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia starting in January.

North Zone vs South Zone Semifinal Update

In the ongoing semifinal, South Zone is on track for a straightforward victory, having set a target of 181 runs.

North Zone, after choosing to bat first, was dismissed for 195 runs, with Qamran Iqbal contributing a solid 76 runs. Vidwath Kaverappa was the standout bowler for South Zone.

For South Zone, captain Tilak Verma scored a remarkable 116 runs, supported by Shreyas Gopal's 87, leading their team to a total of 312 runs, which gives them a 117-run lead. Gurnoor Brar was the top wicket-taker for North Zone with figures of 4/88, while Anshul Kamboj and Arshdeep Singh each took two wickets.

In their second innings, North Zone managed to score 297 runs, with notable contributions from Sanat Sangwan (76) and Ayush Doseja (52). MD Nidheesh took five wickets for South Zone, allowing North Zone to set a target of 181 runs for South Zone to chase.

East Zone Advances to Final

Earlier, East Zone triumphed over Central Zone by four wickets in a thrilling first semifinal of the Duleep Trophy held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Tuesday, securing their spot in the final.

Chasing a target of 159 runs, East Zone successfully reached 162/6 in 39.3 overs, with captain Ishan Kishan leading the way with a steady 39 runs. Kishan remained not out, while Mohammed Shami hit the winning runs, sealing a hard-fought victory for East Zone and ending Central Zone's title defense.

Mohammed Shami had an outstanding performance, taking five wickets in the match, reinforcing his case for a return to the Indian team. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was instrumental for East Zone, scoring 92 and 40 runs in his innings. Mukesh Kumar was named 'Player of the Match' for his impressive seven-wicket haul, including four wickets in the second innings.