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Mohammed Shami is trying his best to draft himself into the Team India selection contention. He is expected to turn the Duleep Trophy final into his happy hunting ground so that East Zone can claim the trophy.
South Zone will be on the opposite end when Shami enters the ground in Chennai for the final. Ahead of the title decider, South Zone captain Tilak Varma said that they will not give away even a single grass without fighting back. Varma and Co know how Mohammed Shami can change the complexion of the match.
The Indian cricket team selectors might have ruled out the fast bowler multiple times, but Tilak Varma and his team are keeping themselves ready to face the ace bowler in the summit clash.
Mohammed Shami took 5 wickets in the Duleep Trophy semi-final
MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host the final from September 6 to 10. Focus is started to shifting form Bengaluru to Chennai for this particular match. Before the summit clash, in the semi-finals, Shami took 5 wickets.
In the first innings of the match against Central Zone, the superstar returned with 2/42, and then, in the second innings, he registered 3/56. Ishan Kishan-led East Zone defeated Central Zone with ease and moves into the final to face South Zone.
The Duleep Trophy 2026 final will mark Shami's 100th match in his First Class cricket career. On the special occasion, the Bengal Cricket Association (CAB) has plans to felicitate their star bowler. The batters of South Zone will also be there to welcome Mohammed Shami. How they will welcome the 36-year-old is the question.
South Zone takes closely observes Mohammed Shami's bowling
Ahead of the crucial match, the South Zone captain Tilak Varma stated that facing Mohammed Shami will be a great experience for them. They observed how brilliantly the experienced fast bowler set those traps for the batters in the semi-final. Varma-led team took their lessons from the East Zone vs Central Zone match.
"It will be a good competition for us, playing against Shami bhai, a quality bowling attack. We have seen as well in the last game how he has set up, especially how to set up the batsmen and take that wicket,” Tilak Varma said.
But they did not hold back only because Shami will be representing the East. South Zone also has a strong batting line-up with multiple quality batters. Devdutt Padikkal, the Player of the Match of the recently concluded India vs Sri Lanka series, is expected to be in the lineup of South Zone.
Tilak Varma-led South Zone is ready for the East Zone challenge
Tilak Varma, who scored a century in the semis, is himself in good form. Keeping faith in their preparations, South Zone is ready to take on Mohammed Shami and East Zone in the final lap of the title race.
“But we know that we are pretty confident for that challenge. So that is why you love the sport. We prepared enough for that, and we are ready to take him on.”
