The zonal selection panel has officially announced a formidable 15-member South Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2026. India’s T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has been entrusted with the leadership mantle as South Zone aims to go one step further this season. Scheduled to take place at the state-of-the-art BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10, the prestigious red-ball tournament promises intense domestic action, with South Zone featuring a fine blend of international experience and proven domestic performers.

Tilak Varma handed South Zone captaincy for Duleep Trophy 2026 squad

Dynamic left-handed batter Tilak, fresh off leading India’s top-order charge in their 3-0 T20I series triumph over Zimbabwe, will lead the campaign. Andhra’s dependable top-order batter Ricky Bhui has been appointed as his deputy. Coaching duties will be overseen by MN Vikram Varma, an experienced Level 2 accredited coach from Andhra Pradesh, who takes charge as the head coach.

The selection committee meeting was convened by Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) secretary Sana Satish Babu and chaired by former Andhra Ranji Trophy stalwart RV Chandramouli Prasad. The panel featured key representatives from all seven constituent Southern state associations – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Pondicherry, and Kerala – ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of regional talent.

Having finished as runners-up in the previous edition after a hard-fought final against Central Zone, South Zone earned a direct seed into the semifinals. They are set to launch their title quest on August 30 at the BCCI CoE Ground 2, where they will face the winner of Quarterfinal 2.

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Balanced blend of youth and experience completes red-ball squad

The 15-member contingent boasts substantial depth across all departments. The batting unit is anchored by veteran international Karun Nair alongside India ‘A’ players Shaik Rasheed, who recently featured in the 1-0 series win over Sri Lanka ‘A’, and Goa’s stylish batter Abhinav Tejrana. Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan, another standout performer on the India ‘A’ circuit, will handle the wicketkeeping duties.

Adding significant firepower to the top and middle order is Karnataka youngster R Smaran, who enjoyed a stellar 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with a staggering 950 runs. Hyderabad’s promising talent K Himateja also earns a well-deserved call-up following consistent domestic displays.

South Zone’s bowling department looks equally formidable. The spin department will be spearheaded by left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan and experienced leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, giving the attack flexibility on multi-day tracks. The fast-bowling unit comprises Karnataka speedster Vidvath Kaverappa, Kerala’s M D Nideesh, alongside K Sai Teja, Tripurana Vijay, and all-rounder H Aman Khan. With a clear mix of high-tempo youth and seasoned red-ball operators, South Zone enters the tournament as one of the major title contenders.

South Zone Squad: N Tilak Varma (c), Ricky Bhui (vc), Abhinav Tejrana, Shaik Rasheed, K M Himateja, R Smaran, N Jagadeesan (WK), Karun Nair, Tanay Thyagarajan, Shreyas Gopal, K Sai Teja, T Vijay, Vidvath Kaverappa, H Aman Khan, M D Nideesh.

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