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. It isn't known yet which two players they will replace.
Tilak Varma, the South Zone captain, along with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan - both part of East - are also likely to play unless there is a late request from the Indian team management for them not to.
The trio is part of India's squad for the three T20Is against Afghanistan that start three days after the scheduled end of the Duleep final on September 10. Padikkal and Siraj's inclusion is part of the team management's plan to keep the Test players in rhythm.
"I would love to play the final," Tilak had said on Thursday after his unbeaten knocks of 116 and 51 steered South Zone to victory against North Zone in the semi-final. "This match has just finished, but I think the Afghanistan game is on the 13th. I am ready to play the final. After that we have two days of 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."
Padikkal is coming off a Player-of-the-Series performance on the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, where he scored 328 runs in three innings including two centuries at No. 3. It was the first time he was playing in back-to-back Tests since his debut in 2024. The opportunity opened up only because the incumbent No. 3 B Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the series due to a toe injury.
Sudharsan won't feature in the Duleep final but is understood to be nearing full fitness. He is likely to be in the plans for the India A series against Australia beginning on September 22 in Puducherry.
Siraj's presence will boost South Zone's pace stocks following a niggle to Vidwath Kaverappa, who was their best bowler in the semi-final. Like Padikkal, Siraj featured in both the Tests in Sri Lanka, picking up four wickets.
Siraj's Hyderabad teammate CV Milind has also been drafted into the squad as cover.