Tilak Varma will miss an important tournament due to the 2025 Asia Cup, scheduled to kick off on September 9. Tilak, who plays for Hyderabad in domestic cricket, was slated to lead South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final from September 4 to 7. The South Zone selectors had named the squad before the national selectors picked the Asia Cup team.
Tilak has been a regular in the T20I squad of late and there were always doubts over his participation in the domestic tournament.
Apart from Tilak, R Sai Kishore will also miss the all-important tournament. He is recovering from a hand injury. The South Zone selectors have called up Ankit Sharma and Shaik Rasheed as the duo’s replacement.
Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen will now lead the South Zone team. He was named the vice-captain. The South Zone squad includes Narayan Jagadeesan, who was part of Team India in the fifth Test match against England.
South Zone will face North Zone in the semi-final from September 4 to 7 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Central Zone will face West Zone in the second semi-final. The final will be played from September 11 to 15.
Tilak Varma likely to bat at number 3
Shubman Gill’s return to India’s T20I squad is unlikely to have an impact on Tilak’s batting position and he looks set to bat at number 3. Shubman is all but confirmed to face the new ball with Abhishek Sharma.
Sanju Samson, who opened the innings against South Africa and England, could be dropped from the playing XI. Jitesh Sharma is a specialised finisher and could replace Sanju.
Tilak and Abhishek can chip in with wickets with their spin if needed. India will face UAE in their first game of the tournament on September 10. They will lock horns with Pakistan and Oman in their last two league stage fixtures on September 14 and 19, respectively.