‘Always special feeling at Chepauk’: Tilak Varma excited for Duleep Trophy final

South Zone captain Tilak Varma is excited to play the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Recalling fond memories at Chepauk, including his T20 World Cup performance, Tilak said he is eagerly awaiting the crowd

Chennai: South Zone captain Tilak Varma said it was a “really special” feeling to be at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone as he looks to guide his team to the title.

Tilak heaped praise on the crowd at Chepauk, highlighting his “good memories” at the venue.

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“We have got great memories here, and the ground has been very historic. When you come to Chennai, the first thing that always comes to mind is Mahibhai. And at the same time, I have got very good memories here,” Tilak said in a video posted by BCCI Domestic.

“The Chennai crowd, they really support me well. Whether I was playing for Mumbai Indians or for India, the crowd has shown me great love. So that is a good sign for me,” he added.

Tilak can look back on his time at Chepauk with good memories. It was at this very ground that he scored a blistering 16-ball 44 in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash against Zimbabwe, which rejuvenated his campaign.

“And I have got good memories here in the World Cup against Zimbabwe. I think I would say that is my comeback match. From there, I was feeling slightly low in the first two games.

“But from here, when I charged up against Zimbabwe, I was on a different level in my batting and in my confidence as well. In one India match, my jersey number is 72, and I have scored 72 here, and I have won the game. It was against England,” he added.

He highlighted that playing the Duleep Trophy final in front of an expected strong crowd would be really special, as the teams played their previous match without fans at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) ground in Bengaluru.

“So I have got a few memories here. It always feels special to me when I am in Chepauk. It is really special playing in the Duleep Trophy final.

“We have missed playing in front of the crowd in the last game. But again, now playing the final in Chepauk, I am expecting that there will be a lot of crowd. So it will be really special because I always wait for that crowd when I come to Chennai.

“I love that crowd. They give that love to me as well. I am really waiting for that,” he concluded.

East Zone will take on South Zone in the final of the prestigious Duleep Trophy from Sunday, with the title at stake.

East Zone are looking for their first Duleep Trophy title since 2012-13, when they defeated Central Zone in the final to lift their second trophy. South Zone have been far more successful, having won 12 titles, with their last coming in 2023.