Domestic red-ball cricket has always been the breeding ground for Indian cricket, shaping potential Test players. The 2026 Duleep Trophy was no different, as East Zone ended up lifting the trophy after beating South Zone in the final, which was played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, from September 6 to 10.

In the final tussle, East Zone won the toss and elected to bat first, eventually winning the match by 12 runs. However, in between, there were some exceptional performances by youngsters, who were on the cusp of making it into the setup.

Three Duleep Trophy players stood out in particular, catching the attention of the selectors

1. Mohammad Kounain Qureshi

Every domestic season produces one player who progresses through a storybook-type rise up the rankings, and 2026 belonged to Mohammad Kounain Quraishi. The Dhanbad product joined the Duleep Trophy fray without a red-ball match to his name, instantly slotting into the playing XI for the first match on the tour.

Quraishi rose impressively to the occasion with the ball in hand, taking five wickets in his first two matches, but the 26-year-old displayed even better temperament with the bat. Quraishi, playing with composure beyond his years in the multi-day format, crafted an unforgettable unbeaten century in the match against the South Zone led by Tilak Varma.

He showed a poise and quality that suggested India should keep an eye on him as a future Test player.

2. Shikhar Mohan

Left-handed batsman Shikhar Mohan learned a valuable lesson in how to maximize one's limited opportunities when playing in one of the Duleep Trophy's most important matches. Mohan was a substitute batter for the East Zone in the high-stakes final match against the South Zone and made the most of his opportunity with two half-centuries in the tournament.

The opener made 137 runs in the two innings of the match where most teams would have folded. He made 85 runs in this Day 1 knock and knocked the biggest scoring individual innings of the tournament with 85 runs off 120 balls.

Shikhar Mohan was also one of two East Zone batters to score centuries in the opening match, securing a well-deserved spot in the Duleep Trophy Team of the Tournament batting at number.

3. Kumar Kushagra

No list of top performers in the 2026 Duleep Trophy would be complete without East Zone's dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra. The Jharkhand product has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting young gloves and batters in the Indian domestic circuit.

Kushagra had a consistent outing in the competition, finishing third in the run-scoring charts with 224 runs in five innings at an average of 44.80. Known for his aggressive lower-middle-order hitting and ability to accelerate the scoring at the drop of a hat, Kumar Kushagra reached his best-ever level at the exact time he needed to.

The rising star made a gritty half-century and a vital century in the final match against the South Zone, guiding the East Zone to the first-innings lead that eventually saw them named champions of the 2026 Duleep Trophy.