Asia Cup 2025: Tilak Varma, star spinner OUT of big tournament, replacements named
Published - 31 Aug 2025, 04:36 PM | Updated - 31 Aug 2025, 04:38 PM
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Just days before the high-stakes Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal against North Zone, South Zone has announced dramatic changes in their squad. With India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad set to leave for the UAE on September 4, captain Tilak Varma will be flying with the team.
Tilak Varma has been named in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Since the BCCI made it mandatory for all the players to reach Dubai by the evening of September 4, Tilak will travel to the UAE with the players on the same day when the Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal will begin.
South Zone stunned as Tilak Varma leaves Duleep Trophy 2025 squad for Asia Cup 2025 duty
Thus, the Hyderabad-born batter was released from the South Zone squad, and now Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen is set to lead the side in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal against North Zone, while Tamil Nadu star N. Jagadeesan was named his vice-captain.
Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed has been named in the South Zone squad as Tilak Varma’s replacement. The promising 20-year-old batter has already impressed everyone by scoring 1,200-plus runs in the Ranji Trophy, and he even had an IPL 2025 contract with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
#DuleepTrophy update.
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) August 31, 2025
Captain Tilak Verma & left-arm spinner Sai Kishore replaced by Sheikh Rasheed & Ankit Sharma in South Zone team for semifinal clash from Sept 4 at CoE in Bengaluru. South Zone will be lead by Mohd Azharuddin (KCA), with Vice Captain: Jagadeesan (TNCA)
Sai Kishore not recovered from a finger injury
Meanwhile, South Zone also lost their left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, who is still recovering from a finger injury that sidelined him from the Buchi Babu Trophy. South Zone named Puducherry’s seasoned campaigner Ankit Sharma as Sai’s replacement.
Tilak Varma is being replaced in South Zone team as he will be flying with the Indian team for Asia Cup. Whereas Sai Kishore is ruled out of Duleep Trophy game due to finger injury. @IExpressSports
— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) August 31, 2025
With 168 wickets in 68 first-class matches, Ankit’s experience could be the X-factor for the team in the Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal against North Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, Bengaluru. The final is scheduled for September 11-15.
South Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2025 Semifinal:
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.
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Meanwhile, MS Dhoni’s return to the Indian dressing room has once again hit the headlines. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 less than six months away, speculation is strong that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached Dhoni to reprise his role as mentor.
MS Dhoni’s return as mentor in doubt as BCCI struggles to finalize sponsor ahead of Asia Cup 2025
However, insiders reveal that the legendary captain MS Dhoni, who previously mentored the team in the 2021 edition, is unlikely to take up the responsibility this time. On the other hand, the BCCI is still in the process of finalizing a new sponsor for Team India.
With the Asia Cup 2025 scheduled in the UAE just days away, the BCCI is racing against time. It is being said that the discussions are at an advanced stage, but the board is unlikely to seal the deal before the Asia Cup 2025 kickoff on September 9 in the UAE.
A BCCI source was quoted as saying by Sports Tak: “We are trying our best. It's not just the Asia Cup but a full cycle of three years. It will be in the public domain soon, but chances of completing it in time, just before the Asia Cup, are slim. We are working on it. Let's see what happens.”
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