East Zone have all but sealed their first Duleep Trophy title in 14 years after extending their lead to nearly 600 runs on day four of the final against South Zone.
East Zone secured a huge 372-run first-innings advantage after Ishan Kishan's 270 helped them post 708, the third-highest total in a Duleep Trophy final. South Zone were bowled out for 336 in reply, with captain Tilak Varma's 99 the standout effort in their innings.
Starting the day at 242-6, South Zone added another 94 in the morning session on Wednesday, with Chama Milind (43) and Tilak holding the fort. They put on a 78 before the former fell. Mohammed Siraj tried to hold one end up as Tilak neared his ninth first-class hundred but was the ninth batter to fall, in the 107th over. Tilak followed him six balls later, lobbing a ball back to the bowler one run short of his hundred.
MD Nidheesh breaks the partnership 👏
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 9, 2026
He gets the crucial wicket of East Zone captain Ishan Kishan who played yet another superb knock of 80(98) 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/BhTkGWeeoD#DuleepTrophy | #EZvSZ pic.twitter.com/j9C01OLgmB
East Zone then lost Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cheaply, before No.3 Shikhar Mohan steadied the innings with 52. Skipper Kishan shone again, making 80 in 98 deliveries, striking nine fours and three sixes.
They ended day four at 212-5, with a lead of 584 giving South Zone an improbable target to overhaul on the last day. It will be East Zone’s third Duleep Trophy title, after their consecutive wins in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
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