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Ahead of the Final of this year's Duleep Trophy, contrasting reports are surfacing on the internet. While most of the reports claim KL Rahul is set to play the final for South Zone alongside Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal, a Cricinfo report provides a different hint; South Zone could play the 2026 Duleep Trophy final without Rahul.
According to the Cricinfo report, two India National Cricket Team stars, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and the versatile batter Devdutt Padikkal, are included in the squad and set to feature in the match for South Zone. But KL Rahul is not mentioned in the Cricinfo report.
KL Rahul not to play in 2026 Duleep Trophy final?
Multiple media reports and claims from verified sources claimed that the BCCI selectors asked all of their available and eligible players to take part in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2026 final. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal, who featured in India's recent Test series against Sri Lanka, reportedly were added to the South Zone team for the title decider game.
According to a different media claim, the selectors directed every player to play the match. KL Rahul was not interested in playing the Duleep Trophy final, but he received clear instructions to play the game.
Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj are confirmed to play in the Duleep Trophy final.
Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj have been included in the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone beginning on Sunday (September 6) in Chennai, the Cricinfo report published on September 4 reads. The report also mentioned that the team management is to decide which players will be dropped to place Siraj and Padikkal in the playing eleven.
Whether KL Rahul will play in the final or not remains uncertain, but the additions of Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal, which look obvious at this point, will definitely bolster the strength of the team. Devdutt Padikkal was the best player of the recently concluded India vs Sri Lanka two-match Test series because of his stunning batting display.
The 26-year-old registered a couple of centuries in three previous innings of the Test series. Padikkal's recent form will be a massive boost for the South Zone batting unit. Similarly, the inclusion of the experienced former Test pacer Mohammed Siraj will be helpful for the team's bowling attack.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play the Duleep Trophy final?
On the other side, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma, three cricketers who were considered uncertain for the final match, are likely to play for their respective teams. If the reports prove true, then Sooryavanshi and Kishan will, as usual, play for East Zone, and Tilak Varma will continue his captaincy stint with South Zone.
They were considered uncertain as India is scheduled to face Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series only after three days, on the scheduled last day of the Duleep Trophy final match.
"I would love to play the final... I think the Afghanistan game is on the 13th. I am ready to play the final. After that, we have a two-day break in between, and if I report on the 11th also, I can practise for a day, and from there I can go and play the match," Varma said after the semifinal fixture against North Zone.
