Duleep Trophy 2025: Vasuki Koushik Named Replacement for Injured Ex-RCB Star in South Zone Squad

Star pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak has been disqualified from the current Duleep Trophy 2025 and will not be participating in any more local competitions, which is a regrettable event in the South Zone dressing room. Vasuki Koushik, a fellow Karnataka pacer, has been selected to the team to replace Vyshak. Vyshak was a member of the original team, but he will now have to pack his bags and go before the team's season opener.

In his 26 first-class appearances thus far, Vijaykumar has claimed three five-wicket hauls and taken 103 wickets at an average of 23.88 and an economy rate of 3.21. Vasuki Koushik, a teammate from Karnataka, has been added to the South Zone squad for this semi-final match, and his replacement has also been confirmed.  

Duleep Trophy 2025 Update:

Before joining the Punjab Kings for the 2025 season, Vyshak played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2024 Indian Premier League season. Before South Zone's opening match in the red-ball competition, the pacer had to have his match-readiness evaluated. He was unable to pass, which is a major blow for both the pacer and the team. Koushik, a 32-year-old right-arm medium pacer, has participated in 23 first-class matches thus far, taking 93 wickets at an average of 17.38 for Karnataka while bowling at an economy rate of just 2.13 and recording four five-wicket hauls.

Tilak Varma of Hyderabad was initially supposed to be the captain of the South Zone team. But to play for India in the 2025 Asia Cup, the top batter must depart for national duty. Mohammed Azharuddeen will therefore be captaining the team in his place. Azharuddeen will be the team's first-choice wicketkeeper in addition to being Tilak's deputy in the initial lineup.

In relation to the first semi-final, the penultimate match between South Zone and North Zone will begin on September 4 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Under Hanuma Vihari's leadership, Azharuddeen & Co. will try to defend the championship they earned in the previous zonal competition, which will take place over four days.

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