East Zone opted to bat first after winning the toss in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone, with both teams announcing competitive playing XIs for the title clash.

South Zone’s lineup attracted attention with India international Mohammed Siraj and top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal featuring in the playing XI. Siraj’s inclusion adds significant pace experience to the bowling attack, while Padikkal provides stability in the batting department.

East Zone decided to make first use of the surface after the toss, hoping their batters can build a strong foundation in the early stages of the match. The final is expected to test both teams’ balance across batting, bowling and all-round capabilities.

The Duleep Trophy remains one of India’s premier domestic red-ball competitions and provides a platform for players to push their case for national selection. Performances in the tournament are closely followed by selectors, particularly ahead of India’s upcoming international assignments.

For South Zone, the presence of Siraj brings international-level experience to a domestic final. The fast bowler has been a key part of India’s pace attack across formats, while Padikkal has continued to remain among the promising young batting options in Indian cricket.