Tilak Varma to lead South Zone team in Duleep Trophy 2025 | Cricket News
Hyderabad batter Tilak Varma will lead the South Zone team in the 2025-26 domestic season-opening Duleep Trophy 2025 tournament in late August.
In a return to its previous format, the Duleep Trophy will be contested the six zonal teams, unlike last year when the four squads – India A, B, C and D – were handpicked the senior men’s national selection committee.
Tilak was appointed as skipper despite missing out on Hyderabad’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 due to his international commitments last season. Kerala batter Mohammed Azharuddeen who had shone in the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 was named the vice-captain. Four members of Kerala’s maiden Ranji final appearance have made the squad.
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The 22-year-old southpaw has, however, been in fine scoring form after turning up for his maiden County stint with Hampshire since last month. Tilak recorded a century on his debut against Essex and backed it up with scores of 56, 47 and 100 in his next four innings.
Hyderabad opener Tanmay Agarwal, who amassed 934 runs in seven matches in their return to the Elite system was included, with Karnataka’s R Smaran and Kerala’s Sachin Ba marking the notable omissions.
Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper N Jagadeesan, who secured his maiden India call-up after Rishabh Pant’s injury for the upcoming fifth Test against England at the Oval, has also been included, besides internationals Devdutt Padikkal and R Sai Kishore.
South Zone Duleep Trophy 2025 squad: Tilak Varma (c) (Hyderabad), Mohammed Azharuddeen (vc) (Kerala), Tanmay Agarwal (Hyderabad), Devdutt Padikkal (Karnataka), Mohit Kale (Pondicherry), Salman Nizar (Kerala), Narayan Jagadeesan (Tamil Nadu), Tripurana Vijay (Andhra), R Sai Kishore (Tamil Nadu), Tanay Thyagarajan (Hyderabad), Vijaykumar Vyshak (Karnataka), Nidheesh MD (Kerala), Ricky Bhui (Andhra), Basil NP (Kerala), Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Snehal Kauthankar (Goa).
