Devdutt Padikkal, Mohammed Siraj named in South Zone squad for Duleep Trophy final

South Zone have added Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj to their squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final against East Zone. The five-day match runs from September 6 to 10, 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The two players travel directly from India's Test series in Sri Lanka. Their selection reflects the team management's intent to keep Test cricketers in competitive match practice. Tilak Varma captains South Zone in the final, while Ishan Kishan leads East Zone. B Sai Sudharsan, who sat out the Sri Lanka series with a toe injury, is approaching full fitness and is being considered for the India A series against Australia, which begins September 22 in Puducherry. He is not part of this squad.

What does Padikkal's Sri Lanka form mean for South Zone's batting?

Padikkal was among the standout performers on the Sri Lanka tour, accumulating 328 runs across three innings at No. 3, with two centuries to his name. His availability hands South Zone a settled and in-form option at the top of the batting order for a high-stakes final.

The tour also marked the first occasion he had featured in consecutive Tests since making his debut in 2024, underlining how far he has come as a Test-match cricketer. The two players he displaces from the squad have not been identified in the available evidence.

How does Siraj's fitness and Kaverappa's niggle shape South Zone's bowling attack?

Siraj returned four wickets in each of the two Tests played in Sri Lanka, arriving at the Duleep final in good rhythm. His presence considerably strengthens a South Zone pace attack that will be tested across five days on a Chennai surface.

The side does carry a concern in their seam bowling group. Vidwath Kaverappa, who stood out as South Zone's most effective bowler during the semi-final, has picked up a niggle ahead of the final. CV Milind has been added to the squad as seam cover, giving the management an additional option should Kaverappa not be available.

Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan are all expected to feature in the final. A late call from the Indian team management could change that, given all three are part of India's squad for three T20Is against Afghanistan beginning September 13.