Top Players With Most Runs In Duleep Trophy (Updated 2026)
The Duleep Trophy has always been a quiet, understated tournament. It doesn’t present itself with much fanfare. There are no packed stands or the raucous noise of television commentary. But what it does offer is quality. The best bowlers from each zone. The best batsmen facing each other without any excuses. Runs are earned here, not given away. For decades, some have done this better than others. Their statistics tell a story of patience, skill, and consistent excellence.
| Player | Teams / Zone | Matches (Approx.) | Runs (Career) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasim Jaffer | West Zone | ~30 | 2,545 |
| Vikram Rathour | North Zone | ~25 | 2,265 |
| Anshuman Gaekwad | West Zone | ~26 | 2,004 |
| Ajay Sharma | North Zone | ~26 | 1,961 |
| Aakash Chopra | Central/North Zone | ~24 | 1,918 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | West Zone | ~22 | 1,859 |
| Mohammad Kaif | Central Zone | ~21 | 1,827 |
| Robin Singh | South Zone | ~25 | 1,721 |
| Lalchand Rajput | West/East Zone | ~18 | 1,705 |
| Mohinder Amarnath | North Zone | ~31 | 1,692 |
Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer tops the Duleep Trophy run chart with 2,545 runs for West Zone. The number feels right because Jaffer was never one for flashy moments. He focused on scoring runs. Session after session. Season after season.
In the Duleep Trophy, he faced India’s best domestic bowlers, often on challenging pitches, often against attacks that knew his game inside out. And yet, he kept scoring runs. His strength lay in his method. A solid defense. Soft hands. An understanding that time spent at the crease was his greatest ally.
Jaffer’s dominance in the Duleep Trophy mirrored his Ranji Trophy career. He didn’t let the attack dictate terms. He wore them down. When you watched Jaffer bat in a zonal final, you sensed control. Not necessarily over the game, but over his craft. It was this control that helped him score more runs than any other player in the tournament’s history.
Vikram Rathour
Vikram Rathour scored 2,265 runs for North Zone, and he did it with remarkable composure. Rathour wasn’t a flashy player. He was reliable. Coaches trusted him. Teammates depended on him.
In zonal cricket, where bowlers bowl at a brisk pace and the fielding is sharp, Rathour’s solid technique stood out. He left the ball well. He defended well. And when he drove, he did so with purpose rather than flair. His Duleep Trophy record reflects a batsman who valued his wicket highly.
This is why Rathour later became a respected batting coach. His understanding of batting went far beyond simply scoring runs. In the Duleep Trophy, this understanding translated into consistent performances against top domestic bowlers.
Anshuman Gaekwad
The 2,004 runs Anshuman Gaekwad scored for West Zone were made during a time when the Duleep Trophy was highly competitive and held in great esteem. Opening the batting back then was no easy task.
Gaekwad brought discipline to the top of the batting order. He was technically sound, mentally strong, and prepared to bat for long periods. His runs didn’t come easily, and perhaps that’s why they were all the more valuable. Every fifty seemed hard-earned. Every century felt truly special.
In zonal cricket, where reputation alone doesn’t suffice, Gaekwad’s technique served him well. His place among the top run-scorers is a testament to the respect he commanded in Indian domestic cricket.
Ajay Sharma
Ajay Sharma’s 1,961 runs for North Zone demonstrate that he was a batsman who knew how to score runs even in challenging conditions. Sharma was an attacking player, but he was also intelligent. He knew when to play aggressively and when to play cautiously.
This balance is crucial in the Duleep Trophy, where the bowlers are so skilled that they can capitalize on any rash shot. Sharma mostly avoided falling into this trap. Once he was set, his ability to dominate made him a valuable player in zonal cricket.
His place among the top five run-scorers reflects his consistent performance. This wasn’t just a matter of one or two outstanding seasons, but the result of contributing at a high level for many years.
Aakash Chopra
Akash Chopra scored 1,918 runs in the Central and North Zones, and these runs define him as a batsman. Patient. Intelligent. Willing to work hard.
Opening the batting in the Duleep Trophy requires courage. The new ball swings. The bowlers attack relentlessly. Chopra embraced this challenge. He absorbed the pressure and allowed others to play around him.
His Duleep Trophy record complements his international reputation. He was never flashy, but he was reliable. In zonal cricket, reliability is often the difference between control and collapse.
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar’s 1,859 runs for West Zone hold special significance. He didn’t need the Duleep Trophy to prove himself. And yet, he took it seriously.
Gavaskar’s presence among the top run-scorers is a reminder of how competitive this tournament once was. Legends played here. And they played to win. Gavaskar’s technique, discipline, and hunger for runs were evident even in zonal cricket.
Even against domestic bowlers who knew his strengths and weaknesses, Gavaskar found ways to score runs. That’s the mark of greatness: the ability to adapt to circumstances and still succeed.
Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif’s 1,827 runs for the Central Zone highlight his importance as a red-ball batsman. Known for his fielding and impressive performances in limited-overs cricket, Kaif’s Duleep Trophy record reminds us of his temperament.
He remained calm under pressure, was willing to work hard, and adapted his game to the situation. In zonal cricket, where momentum shifts quickly, Kaif’s ability to anchor an innings was invaluable.
His runs were often scored quietly. Not many boundaries. Plenty of singles. And spending long periods at the crease. That’s how runs are made in the Duleep Trophy.
Robin Singh
Robin Singh scored 1,721 runs for South Zone, a testament to his versatility. Although he is often remembered as an all-rounder, Singh was also a reliable batsman in the longer format of the game.
He provided stability to the middle order in the Duleep Trophy. He understood his role and performed it effectively. His ability to bat responsibly complemented his athletic prowess and leadership qualities.
South Zone benefited from his experience. His place among the top ten run-scorers reflects not only dominance but also consistency, and that consistency was invaluable.
Lalchand Rajput
Lalchand Rajput’s 1,705 runs scored across the West and East Zones are a testament to his adaptability. Switching zones isn’t easy. Different teammates. Different conditions. Different expectations.
Rajput handled this transition remarkably well. His batting was built on discipline and sound decision-making. He wasn’t a headline-grabbing player, but he was reliable.
In zonal cricket, reliable players often quietly turn the tide of a match. Rajput’s record is proof of this quality.
Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath completes this list with 1,692 runs for the North Zone. Known for his fighting spirit, Amarnath displayed the same tenacity in the Duleep Trophy.
He played long innings. He absorbed the pressure. He troubled the bowlers. His runs didn’t come easily, but they were always valuable.
Amarnath’s longevity in the tournament is a testament to his mental fortitude. Sustaining his performance and scoring runs over several seasons in zonal cricket is a remarkable achievement in itself.
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