Karnataka cricket team pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak has reportedly failed to clear the fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The fast bowler was supposed to feature in the semi-final clash between South Zone and North Zone that will commence on September 4. Vyshak has now been replaced by Vasuki Koushik in the South Zone squad.
Vyshak fails to clear fitness test
As per Times of India, Vyshak failed to clear the fitness assessment tests made mandatory for all cricketers ahead of the start of the domestic season and the Asia Cup. The pacer was last seen in action for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025. He made his comeback in the tournament after recovering from a quad injury. However, he only featured five matches, and picked up 4 wickets.
The Indian cricketers were subjected to two fitness tests at the CoE – the Bronco test and the Yo-Yo test. Details of Vyshak’s fitness tests have not been revealed yet. Vyshak has emerged as Karnataka’s frontline pacer over the year, having taken 103 wickets from 26 matches, averaging 23.88.
Meanwhile, Tilak Varma – who was named captain of the South Zone – has been replaced by Kerala’s Azharuddeen as skipper as he will be traveling with Team India to Dubai for Asia Cup 2025. Narayan Jagadeesan has been named his deputy. Tamil Nadu spinner Sai Kishore has also been ruled out of the semi-final clash due to an injury. Tilak will be replaced by Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed while Puducherry’s Ankit Sharma fills Kishore’s spot.
South Zone squad for Duleep Trophy
Mohammed Azharuddeen (c & wk), Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar, N Jagadeesan (vc & wk), T Vijay, R Sai Kishore, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vasuki Koushik, MD Nidheesh, Ricky Bhui, Basil NP, Gurjapneet Singh, Snehal Kauthankar, Ankit Kumar, Shaik Rasheed
