Ishan Kishan Leads East Zone Charge in Duleep Trophy Final

Update: 6 September 2026, 8:07:44 PM

East Zone asserted total control on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, finishing their first innings at 385/4 against South Zone. Captain Ishan Kishan anchored the batting effort with an unbeaten 111, while Shikhar Mohan and Kumar Kushagra provided vital support to keep the opposition on the back foot throughout the day.

Early Aggression and Opening Stand

After winning the toss and electing to bat, East Zone’s openers set a blistering pace. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the standout performer in the morning, contributing a rapid 44 off just 37 deliveries. His aggressive approach against Mohammed Siraj—who struggled for control and conceded nearly seven runs per over across his 14-over spell—helped establish a century partnership. Sooryavanshi’s departure in the 15th over, courtesy of a delivery from Chama Milind, provided South Zone with their first breakthrough.

Middle Order Resilience

Following the opening stand, the innings saw a brief period of instability. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who had been scoring freely, was dismissed via a run-out in the 25th over following a mix-up between the wickets. After the lunch interval, East Zone lost Sudip Kumar Gharami, leaving the game momentarily balanced. However, Ishan Kishan and Shikhar Mohan stabilized the innings with a crucial 94-run partnership. Mohan was particularly destructive against the spinners, hitting two sixes off Shreyas Gopal before eventually falling for 85 in the 53rd over after an inside edge onto his stumps.

Dominant Final Session

The final session belonged entirely to East Zone as South Zone’s bowling attack began to fatigue. Kishan and Kumar Kushagra took full advantage, putting together an unbroken 144-run stand that effectively shut the opposition out of the contest. Kishan reached his milestone century with a boundary off Gopal in the 77th over, showcasing poise and technical solidity on a surface that offered only occasional turn. By the time play concluded two overs later, the pair had ensured East Zone ended the day in a position of significant strength. The report also notes that while Shikhar Mohan (85) and Kumar Kushagra (63*) also made valuable contributions, skipper Ishan Kishan led the way with an unbeaten 111. The report also notes that the highlight of the first session and the 100-run opening stand was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 37-ball 44, opting to bat first upon winning the toss. The report also notes that after a brief 33-run stand, South Zone got a lucky break with a mix-up between the batters leading to Easwaran getting run-out in the 25th over. The report also notes that he finished the over by lifting another delivery over mid-off for four.