South Zone's squad for Duleep Trophy announced, Tilak Varma announced captain

Tilak Varma is set to lead South Zone’s campaign in the 2026 Duleep Trophy following his appointment as captain on Sunday, August 2, 2026. Supporting him as vice-captain will be Andhra batter Ricky Bhui, while fellow Andhra native MN Vikram Varma takes the reins as the squad's head coach.

South Zone's squad for Duleep Trophy announced

Hosted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the red-ball competition will span from August 23 to September 10, 2026. Thanks to their impressive run to the final last season, South Zone have bypassed the opening rounds and secured an automatic berth in the semifinals, with their campaign officially launching on August 30, 2026.

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The 15-player contingent showcases a balanced mix of seasoned domestic stalwarts and promising young prospects from the southern region, all aiming for the title under Varma's leadership.

Tilak Varma takes South Zone's charge

Already serving as the national T20I vice-captain, Tilak Varma's elevation to South Zone skipper builds seamlessly on his growing leadership role for India. The Hyderabad star has cemented his spot as a white-ball fixture over the past 12 months, most recently showcasing his touch and readiness during India's 3-0 T20I sweep of Zimbabwe just before this domestic call-up. By handing him the reins, selectors have reinforced their trust in his ability to lead across different tiers and formats.

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While the official squad reveal on August 2, 2026, did not elaborate on the rationale behind the decision, the addition of the seasoned Ricky Bhui as deputy gives the squad a dependable domestic voice to complement Varma’s captaincy throughout the event.

South Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2026:

Tilak Varma (captain), Ricky Bhui (vice-captain), Abhinav Tejrana, Shaik Rasheed, K M Himateja, R Smaran, N Jagadeesan (wicketkeeper), Karun Nair, Tanay Thyagarajan, Shreyas Gopal, K Sai Teja, T Vijay, Vidvath Kaverappa, H Aman Khan and M D Nideesh