The Duleep Trophy final will bring together two star-studded sides when South Zone take on East Zone at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium from September 6, with several India players adding considerable intrigue to the domestic title clash.
South Zone will be strengthened by the arrival of Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal, while East Zone will rely on the experience of Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan, along with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. KL Rahul, however, will not feature in the final.
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Tilak Varma will lead South Zone before joining the India squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning September 13. Padikkal arrives in excellent form after scoring two centuries during India’s recent Test series in Sri Lanka. His presence could significantly strengthen South Zone’s batting line-up.
Siraj is also expected to play a major role with the ball. After bowling at reduced speeds of around 125-130kph in Sri Lanka, the pacer is working his way back to his usual rhythm. The red-soil surface at Chepauk is expected to provide bounce and carry, potentially making Siraj an even greater threat if he can regain his pace.
East Zone will enter the final with plenty of confidence. Ishan Kishan will captain the side, with Sooryavanshi serving as his deputy. The 15-year-old has already attracted considerable attention with his aggressive batting and will now face a different challenge in red-ball cricket.
Sooryavanshi has previously demonstrated his ability in the longer format, hitting a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19s in an unofficial Youth Test at Chepauk in October 2024. He also became the youngest player to score a half-century in the Duleep Trophy at 15 years and 157 days.
The final will also be a landmark occasion for Shreyas Gopal and Shami, with both players set to make their 100th first-class appearances. Gopal, who returned to Karnataka from Kerala in 2024, has established himself as a key strike bowler while also providing useful runs lower down the order.
South Zone will be without Vidwath Kaverappa, who suffered an ankle injury during the semi-final. Hyderabad left-arm seamer CV Milind has been added to the squad as his replacement.
The pitch is expected to offer encouraging bounce early on before potentially assisting spinners later in the match. Both captains anticipate the surface taking more turn on the fourth and fifth days. Rain has also been forecast in Chennai for Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning weather could become a factor.
With free entry announced for the C, D and E lower stands, a strong crowd is expected at Chepauk. The presence of several current and potential India players should add further excitement to what promises to be an intriguing domestic final.
