The Duleep Trophy 2025 promises to be a fascinating start to India’s domestic cricket season, with the tournament’s knock-out set to begin on August 28 at Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds. One of the most significant announcements is the appointment of the young and dynamic India batter N. Tilak Varma as the captain of the South Zone team. With his recent stellar performances for Hampshire in England, Tilak leads a strong 16-member squad packed with emerging talent, including several standout players from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This season marks the return to the traditional zonal format after experimenting with an India A, B, C, and D team structure in previous years, reaffirming regional pride and intense rivalries.
Tilak Varma takes charge of the South Zone in Duleep Trophy 2025
At just 22 years old, Tilak has quickly made a name for himself in Indian cricket. His recent innings for Hampshire — including two centuries and notable scores of 56 and 47 — demonstrated his ability to adapt and perform in challenging English conditions, making him a natural choice to lead South Zone in the knockout stages of the Duleep Trophy. Alongside him, Mohammed Azharuddeen has been named vice-captain, bringing experience and stability to the batting lineup. The squad also features Kerala’s four prominent representatives, who earned recognition for their exceptional contributions until the Ranji Trophy final. Adding depth to the team are Tamil Nadu players such as Narayan Jagadeesan, who is returning from England as cover for the injured Rishabh Pant, the senior spinner R. Sai Kishore, and the talented middle-order batter Devdutt Padikkal. Leading the bowling attack is Karnataka pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar, with the experienced Karnataka batter R. Smaran included as a standby, highlighting the squad’s balance across roles.
Also READ: West Zone announce squad for Duleep Trophy 2025; Shardul Thakur named captain
Format and fixture insights of Duleep Trophy 2025
The 2025 edition of the Duleep Trophy returned to the zonal format after a brief stint in the A, B, C and D system. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), this shift aims to restore a sense of pride and identity among players representing their respective zones, while also elevating the competitive standard of the tournament. The six teams representing North, South, East, West, Central, and North-East zones follow a knockout format beginning August 28.
South Zone and West Zone have been directly seeded into the semifinals, with quarterfinal clashes featuring North Zone vs East Zone and Central Zone vs North East Zone. The tournament then progresses through semifinals and concludes with the final on September 11. The competition will be held entirely at the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds in Bengaluru. This traditional zonal format not only revives regional rivalries but also offers emerging players a platform to showcase their talents and stake claims for higher honours in Indian cricket.
With a vibrant squad led by Tilak and the renewed excitement of zonal battles, the Duleep Trophy 2025 is poised to set the tone for the domestic season, promising high-quality cricket and emerging 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.
Also READ: Duleep Trophy 2025: Ishan Kishan to lead East Zone as Mohammed Shami returns to the squad