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KL Rahul is among the key players who will join the South Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy final match against the East Zone. In an online discussion, Abhishek Tripathi, a Dainik Jagran reporter, claimed that Rahul did not want to be included in the team for the Duleep Trophy final. But he had no second option as the instructions were clear.
Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final match, which is scheduled to be played from September 6-10 at M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohmmad Siraj have been added to the South Zone squad. With three India National Cricket Team players, South Zone's squad strength has increased significantly. In the presence of the three, the team is expected to make multiple changes in the playing eleven as well.
BCCI asks KL Rahul to play the Duleep Trophy final for South Zone
India Test team opener KL Rahul is expected to play the match. During the online interaction, Abhishek Tripathi stated that many players were instructed to join their respective teams for the Duleep Trophy semi-finals and finals. Rahul was one of them. During the tournament final, Rahul will be available to represent the South Zone. Initially, the keeper-batter did not want to play the match, but he was directed to play the final.
"Many players have been told to go and play in the semi-finals and the finals. KL Rahul was complaining that he doesn't want to play. But there were indications that you will have to play," according to the claim.
🚨KL Rahul did not want to play in the Duleep Trophy final, but the BCCI instructed him to participate, leaving him with no choice but to play.[Abhishek Tripathi] pic.twitter.com/PHDCwUYICg
— FANRISHU (@ARJUNkaPANT) September 3, 2026
BCCI selectors ask every available cricketer to take part in the Duleep Trophy final
Quoting a source, news agency PTI also reported the same. According to the report, selectors said any Indian cricketers who are available and eligible should have to play the Duleep Trophy final. KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj last featured for India in Colombo for the second Test match against Sri Lanka.
They are likely to play next for India in late September, when the Men in Blue will be up against the West Indies in an ODI series. As of now, they do not have any competitive matches, so the selectors asked them to play in the Duleep Trophy final.
"Rahul, Padikkal and Siraj do not have any competitive cricket right now. The national selectors want any Indian player who is available to play the Duleep Trophy final. The trio played last on August 27. The next match they will play is on September 27 against the West Indies in the ODIs," the source informed PTI.
South Zone defeated East Zone once to win the Duleep Trophy
The upcoming Duleep Trophy final will be an historic event in Indian cricket. South Zone and East Zone last faced each other in the final of the tournament back in the season 1970/71. Then, South Zone won the trophy by 10 wickets, defeating the East Zone.
Last time, during the 2012/13 season, East Zone claimed the title, outplaying Central Zone in the final. On the other hand, South Zone has won 13 titles in 24 final appearances. Their previous title-winning moment was in 2023, when they emerged as better than the West Zone.
