Duleep Trophy: Tilak, Nidheesh star as South Zone enters the final
South Zone secured a spot in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy final after a decisive seven-wicket victory over North Zone. Captain Tilak Varma led the performance with both bat and ball, supported by M.D. Nidheesh's five-wicket haul.
Why it matters
The Duleep Trophy is a prestigious domestic cricket tournament in India, serving as a key platform for identifying talent for the national team.
An omnipresent Tilak Varma fashioned South Zone’s entry into the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy final with a thumping seven-wicket triumph over North Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.
The 23-year-old from Hyderabad, who had starred in the first innings with an ultra-patient, unbeaten 116 (250b), scored a breezy half-century (51 n.o., 79b, 8x4) on Wednesday to help South chase 181 and set up a final date with East Zone in Chennai starting this Sunday.
Tilak first batted during a nervous few minutes towards the end of day one. He then occupied the crease for the whole of day two, helped swell South’s first-innings lead to 117 on day three before coming up with a first-rate finishing act on the final day.
And when he was not batting, he was marshalling his team’s resources as captain, making it an all-encompassing show.
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