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South Zone will square off against North Zone in the second semi-final of the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru, beginning August 30. South Zone, who finished runners-up in the previous edition, earned a direct entry into the semi-finals, while North Zone advanced after edging past West Zone by 52 runs in a tense quarter-final.
Led by India batter Tilak Varma, South Zone have a strong squad comprising experienced campaigners and promising young players. Ricky Bhui has been named vice-captain, while Karun Nair, Narayan Jagadeesan, Shreyas Gopal and Vidhwath Kaverappa add considerable first-class experience.
With North Zone coming off a hard-fought knockout victory, South will be keen to field their strongest possible combination. Their batting depth, coupled with a versatile bowling attack, gives them plenty of options heading into the four-day contest.
Here is the predicted playing XI of South Zone for the Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final against North Zone:
Kodimela Himateja is expected to open the innings for South Zone.
The Andhra batter is likely to be given the responsibility of providing a solid start alongside another technically sound opener. Against a North Zone attack featuring Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj, Himateja will need to negotiate the new ball carefully.
A substantial opening partnership would allow South’s experienced middle order to take control of the innings.
R Smaran should partner Himateja at the top.
The Karnataka batter has emerged as an exciting domestic prospect and brings a combination of patience and stroke-making ability. His presence gives South a left-handed option in the top order, which could make things slightly more difficult for North’s bowlers.
Smaran’s ability to bat for long periods could be particularly important if Arshdeep finds early movement.
Ricky Bhui is likely to bat at No. 3 and take on the responsibility of vice-captain.
The Andhra batter is one of the most experienced members of the squad and has produced several substantial scores in first-class cricket. His ability to absorb pressure and construct long innings makes him a natural candidate for the crucial No. 3 role.
Bhui could be pivotal if South lose an early wicket.
Karun Nair should occupy the No. 4 position.
The experienced Karnataka batter brings a wealth of first-class cricket experience and remains one of the most dependable run-makers in India’s domestic circuit. His ability to bat time and punish loose deliveries makes him an ideal player to anchor South’s middle order.
Against North’s spin combination of Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu, Nair’s experience could prove invaluable.
Captain Tilak Varma is expected to come in at No. 5.
Tilak’s leadership will be one of the biggest talking points surrounding South Zone. The Hyderabad batter was appointed captain ahead of the tournament, with the BCCI confirming that he would lead the side after South finished runners-up last season.
His left-handed batting adds variety to a predominantly right-handed middle order. More importantly, Tilak has the ability to shift gears without compromising his technique, making him a dangerous player once the ball gets older.
Narayan Jagadeesan is likely to take the wicketkeeping duties.
The Tamil Nadu batter-wicketkeeper is one of the most experienced players in the squad and offers considerable value behind the stumps. His batting ability also provides South with additional depth.
Jagadeesan could be especially important when South’s spinners come into operation, as good glovework will be essential against North’s left-arm spin options.
Shreyas Gopal should feature as one of South Zone’s primary all-round options.
The Karnataka veteran can contribute with both bat and leg-spin, giving Tilak another useful bowling option. His experience in domestic cricket and ability to break partnerships could make him particularly valuable during the middle overs.
Gopal also strengthens the lower order, reducing the pressure on the specialist batters above him.
Tanay Thyagarajan is likely to provide another spin-bowling option.
The left-arm spinner has considerable experience in domestic cricket and can be particularly effective on surfaces that offer assistance to slower bowlers.
With North Zone expected to rely heavily on Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu, South could also look to use Thyagarajan aggressively in the middle overs to control the scoring rate.
Vidhwath Kaverappa should lead South Zone’s pace attack.
The Karnataka seamer has established himself as a reliable domestic bowler and possesses the ability to maintain pressure through disciplined lines and lengths.
His battle against North’s top order could be crucial. Kaverappa will want to exploit any movement available early in the innings before the pitch becomes easier for batting.
Tripurana Vijay is expected to be the second specialist seamer.
The Andhra all-rounder provides useful bowling depth and can contribute lower-order runs when required. His presence also gives Tilak flexibility when managing the workload of the frontline bowlers.
Vijay’s ability to maintain control from one end could allow Kaverappa to attack more aggressively from the other.
Kavuri Saiteja could complete the South Zone XI as the third specialist seamer.
The Andhra pacer gives the side another genuine pace option and should benefit from bowling alongside Kaverappa. In a four-day match, having three seamers allows Tilak to rotate his attack more effectively.
However, Aman Khan and Abhinav Tejrana are also options from the announced squad, particularly if South want additional all-round depth.
Kodimela Himateja, R Smaran, Ricky Bhui (VC), Karun Nair, Tilak Varma (C), Narayan Jagadeesan (WK), Shreyas Gopal, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Tripurana Vijay, Kavuri Saiteja
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