Tilak Varma is appointed captain of the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, with Ricky Bhui named vice-captain, according to NDTV. The selected team includes experienced batter Karun Nair and a group of younger players. Among them is R Smaran of Karnataka, who NDTV notes topped the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy run charts with 950 runs. Hyderabad’s K Himateja is also part of the squad. The announcement outlines the leadership roles within the South Zone setup and highlights a mix of established and in-form domestic performers. The selection reflects an emphasis on both experience and recent domestic output, with Smaran’s Ranji form cited as a key credential. No other teams, match schedule details, or additional squad members are provided in the supplied excerpt. The report presents the captaincy and the key names included in South Zone’s Duleep Trophy squad ahead of the tournament.