The Duleep Trophy 2025 guarantees to be a captivating begin to India’s home cricket season, with the event’s knock-out set to start on August 28 at Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds. Probably the most vital bulletins is the appointment of the younger and dynamic India batter N. Tilak Varma because the captain of the South Zone staff. Along with his current stellar performances for Hampshire in England, Tilak leads a powerful 16-member squad filled with rising expertise, together with a number of standout gamers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This season marks the return to the standard zonal format after experimenting with an India A, B, C, and D staff construction in earlier years, reaffirming regional pleasure and intense rivalries.
Tilak Varma takes cost of the South Zone in Duleep Trophy 2025
At simply 22 years outdated, Tilak has rapidly made a reputation for himself in Indian cricket. His current innings for Hampshire — together with two centuries and notable scores of 56 and 47 — demonstrated his capability to adapt and carry out in difficult English situations, making him a pure selection to steer South Zone within the knockout phases of the Duleep Trophy. Alongside him, Mohammed Azharuddeen has been named vice-captain, bringing expertise and stability to the batting lineup. The squad additionally options Kerala’s 4 outstanding representatives, who earned recognition for his or her distinctive contributions till the Ranji Trophy last. Including depth to the staff are Tamil Nadu gamers resembling Narayan Jagadeesan, who’s coming back from England as cowl for the injured Rishabh Pant, the senior spinner R. Sai Kishore, and the proficient middle-order batter Devdutt Padikkal. Main the bowling assault is Karnataka pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar, with the skilled Karnataka batter R. Smaran included as a standby, highlighting the squad’s stability throughout roles.
Additionally READ: West Zone announce squad for Duleep Trophy 2025; Shardul Thakur named captain
Format and fixture insights of Duleep Trophy 2025
The 2025 version of the Duleep Trophy returned to the zonal format after a quick stint within the A, B, C and D system. In keeping with the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI), this shift goals to revive a way of pleasure and identification amongst gamers representing their respective zones, whereas additionally elevating the aggressive normal of the event. The six groups representing North, South, East, West, Central, and North-East zones observe a knockout format starting August 28.
South Zone and West Zone have been immediately seeded into the semifinals, with quarterfinal clashes that includes North Zone vs East Zone and Central Zone vs North East Zone. The event then progresses by means of semifinals and concludes with the ultimate on September 11. The competitors will likely be held completely on the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds in Bengaluru. This conventional zonal format not solely revives regional rivalries but in addition presents rising gamers a platform to showcase their abilities and stake claims for larger honours in Indian cricket.
With a vibrant squad led by Tilak and the renewed pleasure of zonal battles, the Duleep Trophy 2025 is poised to set the tone for the home season, promising high-quality cricket and rising stars making their mark.
South Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2025 knock-outs
Tilak Varma (c), Mohammed Azharuddeen (vice-captain), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, Narayan Jagadeesan, T. Vijay (Andhra), R. Sai Kishore, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vyshak Vijaykumar, MD Nidheesh, Ricky Bhui, Basil NP, Gurjapneet Singh, Snehal Kauthankar.
Additionally READ: Duleep Trophy 2025: Ishan Kishan to steer East Zone as Mohammed Shami returns to the squad