Is Azharuddeen Ready to Lead South Zone in the Duleep Trophy Semifinal Against North Zone?
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Synopsis
In a pivotal moment for South Zone cricket, Kerala's Mohammed Azharuddeen has stepped up as captain for the Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone. With key players missing, will Azharuddeen's leadership make a difference? Discover the squad changes and background on this thrilling encounter!
Key Takeaways
- Mohammed Azharuddeen leads South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal.
- Tilak Varma steps down due to national duties.
- N. Jagadeesan is appointed vice-captain.
- Injuries lead to the inclusion of new players.
- Exciting matches await in the semifinals.
Bengaluru, Aug 31 (NationPress) - Mohammed Azharuddeen, the talented batter from Kerala, has been appointed as the new captain of the South Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy semifinal against North Zone, set to commence on September 4 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) Grounds.
Azharuddeen steps in as captain, taking over from Tilak Varma, who had initially been selected but was withdrawn from the tournament due to his inclusion in India's squad for the forthcoming Men's T20 Asia Cup taking place in the UAE from September 9-28.
Joining him in leadership is Tamil Nadu's wicketkeeper-batter N. Jagadeesan, who will serve as vice-captain after being called up to the national Test squad for the fifth match against England.
The South Zone will be missing left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore, who is still recovering from a hand injury that has kept him out of the ongoing Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai.
To fill the gap, Ankit Sharma from Puducherry and Andhra's top-order batter Shaik Rasheed have been included in the squad, both previously listed as standbys.
Ankit boasts an impressive record with 168 wickets in 68 first-class matches, while Rasheed has scored 1,204 runs in 19 Ranji Trophy games and contributed 71 runs in five matches for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025.
The South Zone will face North Zone, led by Ankit Kumar, in the second semifinal, while the Central Zone is set to clash with West Zone, captained by Shardul Thakur, in the other semifinal of the Duleep Trophy.
South Zone Squad: Mohammed Azharuddeen (c), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, Narayan Jagadeesan, Tripurana Vijay, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nidheesh MD, Ricky Bhui, Basil NP, Gurjapneet Singh, Snehal Kauthankar, Ankit Sharma, and Shaikh Rasheed.
Standbys: Mohit Redkar, R. Smaran, Edhen Apple Tom, and Andre Siddarth.
Point of View
The choice of Mohammed Azharuddeen as captain reflects the need for adaptability in sports. With injuries and national commitments reshaping the team, South Zone faces a challenging but exciting opportunity to showcase their talent. Our commitment remains towards supporting the development of cricket in India, highlighting the importance of nurturing emerging players.
NationPress
31/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the captain of the South Zone team?
Mohammed Azharuddeen has been named the captain of the South Zone team for the Duleep Trophy semifinal.
When does the Duleep Trophy semifinal start?
The semifinal match is set to begin on September 4 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds.
Why was Tilak Varma replaced as captain?
Tilak Varma was withdrawn from the tournament after being included in India's squad for the Men's T20 Asia Cup.
Who is serving as vice-captain for the South Zone?
N. Jagadeesan, a wicketkeeper-batter from Tamil Nadu, will serve as the vice-captain for South Zone.
Who are the standbys for the South Zone team?
The standbys for the South Zone team include Mohit Redkar, R. Smaran, Edhen Apple Tom, and Andre Siddarth.
