BCCI moves Duleep Trophy final from Bengaluru to Chennai

The BCCI has officially relocated the Duleep Trophy final from Bengaluru to Chennai, citing restrictions that would have prevented spectators from attending the match at the Centre of Excellence. Secretary Devajit Saikia explained that while the two quarterfinals and two semifinals will still take place at the CoE, government limitations on public access made a venue change necessary. As a result, the five‑day final will now be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium starting September 6.

All fixtures will be live‑streamed, with select games, including the final, also televised. The inter‑zonal red‑ball competition begins on August 23 with simultaneous quarterfinals: East Zone vs North East Zone and North Zone vs West Zone. Semifinals follow on August 30, each scheduled for four days. Central Zone enter as defending champions after defeating South Zone in last year’s final. The move aims to preserve fan engagement for one of India’s key domestic tournaments.