India, Aug. 23 -- The 2026 domestic red-ball season gets underway today, Sunday, August 23, with a thrilling Duleep Trophy quarter-final between a powerhouse East Zone and an ambitious North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. While Ishan Kishan leads a star-studded East Zone lineup, the biggest spotlight is on 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who takes the field as the side's vice-captain.

How Does the Duleep Trophy Format Work?

The tournament features India's six traditional regional zones competing in a direct knockout bracket:

Semi-Final Byes: Central Zone and South Zone receive direct entry into the semi-finals courtesy of their top finishes in the previous edition.

Quarter-Final Fixtures: ...