South Zone has suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming Duleep Trophy final encounter. Following the conclusion of the Sri Lanka series, expectations were high that KL Rahul would feature in the tournament's climax due to his availability. However, on September 5, South Zone captain Tilak Varma put all speculation to rest by confirming that Rahul will not participate in the final. The title clash will pit South Zone against East Zone, a side led by Ishan Kishan with Vaibhav Suryavanshi acting as vice-captain. While both squads possess considerable strength, Rahul's presence would have given the South Zone batting order an extra layer of depth.
Inclusion of Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal
The South Zone skipper confirmed that KL Rahul will not feature in the summit clash starting Sunday in Chennai. At the same time, he made it clear that Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal are part of the team's playing eleven for the fixture. Earlier reports suggested the selection committee wanted all three players to take part in the match. However, Tilak Varma firmly stated that KL Rahul is not even present with the squad in Chennai. Speaking to reporters a day prior to the match during a press conference, the captain cleared the air regarding the team composition.
Upcoming T20 Series Against Afghanistan
Once the Duleep Trophy fixture concludes, Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Tilak Varma are scheduled to join the Indian team camp. A three-match T20 series against Afghanistan is set to begin on September 13 at the Arun जेटली Stadium in New Delhi, prompting these players to travel to the capital. Discussions had previously revolved around whether their participation in the domestic tournament hinged on a decision by India head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Boosting the Squad with Experience
Commenting on the inclusion of Padikkal and Siraj, Tilak noted that their arrival would significantly benefit the squad. He added that the current form of both players will tremendously boost team morale and provide crucial assistance on the field. Given that the roster features several youngsters, the two seasoned campaigners will have the opportunity to share their valuable experience. To reach the summit clash, South Zone secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over North Zone in the semi-finals, while East Zone defeated Central Zone in their respective semi-final.
