Chennai, September 10, 2026: East Zone were crowned Duleep Trophy champions on Thursday, ending a 13-year wait for the title after their final against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium ended in a draw, with Ishan Kishan’s side winning on first-innings lead.
East Zone’s 708 in the first innings put them 372 runs ahead of South Zone’s 336, and they stretched that lead further in their second innings, declaring at 388 for seven to set South Zone an unattainable target of 761. With too little time left in the match, the game petered out into a draw, handing East Zone their first Duleep Trophy since 2012-13.
Quraishi’s maiden century puts the game beyond South Zone
Md Kounain Quraishi made an unbeaten 116 on the final day, his first century in first-class cricket, sharing a 150-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Anukul Roy, who made 64. Kumar Kushagra, who had made a century in the first innings, added 46 in the second. The declaration left South Zone needing 761 with barely any overs to bat, and the draw was a formality from there.
East Zone’s total was built around Ishan Kishan’s 270 in the first innings, the second-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final behind Raman Lamba’s 320 in 1987-88. Kushagra’s century was his sixth in first-class cricket, Shikhar Mohan added a half-century, and Mohammed Shami, playing his 100th first-class match, took two for 17.
South Zone’s reply rested on captain Tilak Varma, who made 99 off 211 balls before chipping a return catch to Quraishi. Devdutt Padikkal made 62 and Chama Milind 43, but the innings folded 372 runs behind, with Mukesh Kumar taking three for 62 to go with Shami’s two.
Varma: “Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us”
Varma, speaking after the presentation ceremony, said South Zone had been up against it from the moment East Zone passed 700.
“It is disappointing for us. The first day we were doing better, but when they scored 700, it was slightly tough chasing 700. Props to their batters. We didn’t bowl that great honestly,” Varma said. “Honestly, we were just thinking of batting on for three days, we have tried our best to score 700… Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us.”
Varma was named Player of the Series despite finishing on the losing side in the final.
Kishan: “We won this title as a group”
Kishan was named Player of the Match for his 270 and 80 across the two innings, and finished the tournament as its leading run-scorer with 409 runs from five innings at an average of 102.25. East Zone have not lost a first-class match under his captaincy in 16 games.
Speaking after the trophy presentation, Kishan credited the dressing room rather than individual performances.
“To be honest, it’s more about being one unit, we did that as a group, we won this title as a group, everyone was taking care of each other,” Kishan said. “I think I’ve been a good leader, journey doesn’t end here, when you lead a side there’s always mistakes happening. I think it was more about reading the situation, you need to take care of each other, to get into the zone where I was. It’s a good transformation for me: I’ve been more calm, I’ve had more hunger, you want to lead the team from the front.”
