Duleep Trophy 2025: Azharuddeen to lead South Zone in semis after Tilak Varma leaves for national duty

Duleep Trophy 2025: Azharuddeen to lead South Zone in semis after Tilak Varma leaves for national duty. (Photo Source: BCCI)

South Zone has been forced to make some leadership and squad changes ahead of their Duleep Trophy 2025 semi-final clash against North Zone. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen will lead the team after the original skipper Tilak Varma withdrew due to his selection in India’s Asia Cup squad. The semi-final begins on September 4 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Varma, who was named captain of the South Zone, earned a call-up to represent India in the upcoming Asia Cup, making him unavailable for the Duleep Trophy. Meanwhile, Azharuddeen, who was earlier named vice-captain, has been given the responsibility of leading the team. Furthermore, Tamil Nadu’s Narayan Jagadeesan has been promoted to vice-captain.

South Zone has also had to deal with the absence of Tamil Nadu spinner R Sai Kishore, who has not recovered from a finger injury suffered during a club match in Chennai. The injury had already ruled him out of the pre-season Buchi Babu Trophy.

Ankit, Rasheed added to South Zone squad

Notably, South Zone has brought in Puducherry’s experienced all-rounder Ankit Sharma and Andhra’s young top-order batter Shaik Rasheed as replacements for Tilak and Kishore. Both players were originally listed as standbys and now get the opportunity to feature in the squad.

In the 2024-25 Ranji season, he picked up 24 wickets in seven matches at 28.95, while also contributing with the bat, scoring 216 runs. On the other hand, Rasheed is among the most promising young batters in the domestic circuit. He was Andhra’s leading run-getter last season with 627 runs at an average of 52.25, including a double century against Hyderabad. He also featured for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.

South Zone will face North Zone in the semi-final, with the latter advancing after securing a first-innings lead against East Zone in their quarter-final. The other semi-final will see Central Zone taking on West Zone.

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