By East Zone closed in on the Duleep Trophy title on Day 4 of the final against South Zone in Chennai, needing four more wickets to seal victory.
Ishan Kishan’s career-best 270 anchored East Zone’s first innings total of 708, with Kumar Kushagra also scoring a century.
South Zone were bowled out for 336 in reply, with captain Tilak Varma making 99 and Chama Milind 43, while Mohammed Shami took 2 for 17 for the bowling side.
East Zone opted not to enforce the follow-on despite a 372-run lead, instead batting again to reach 212 for 5, with Kishan unbeaten on 48.
Under the Duleep Trophy’s first-innings lead rule, East Zone are on course to be crowned champions once South Zone’s second innings is completed.
The Duleep Trophy final is being played under the tournament’s first-innings lead rule, meaning a draw would hand the title to whichever side leads after the first innings.
South Zone’s reply of 336 featured a fighting 99 from captain Tilak Varma, who fell agonisingly short of a century, and 43 from Chama Milind.
Mohammed Shami’s 2 for 17 was among the most economical bowling spells of South Zone’s attack during East Zone’s first innings.
East Zone’s decision not to enforce the follow-on, despite a 372-run first-innings lead, gave their bowlers additional rest before a potential final push for victory.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage batting prospect who earned a maiden national T20 call-up earlier this year, was among East Zone’s top order in the second innings.
The final is being played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, a venue with a long history of hosting high-profile domestic and international matches.
The Duleep Trophy is contested between India’s domestic cricket zones and is played under first-class conditions, serving as a proving ground for players aiming to break into the national side.
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
