CHENNAI, 7 September 2026: Ishan Kishan struck a career-best 270 and Kumar Kushagra added a maiden century as East Zone were bowled out for 708 against South Zone on the second day of the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
East Zone had won the toss and chosen to bat first, and resumed the day on 385 for four. Kishan and Kushagra batted through the morning and afternoon sessions before the innings folded in the 163rd over, leaving South Zone with a huge target to chase down over the remaining three days of the five-day final.
Kishan’s maiden Duleep double century
Kishan, East Zone’s captain and wicketkeeper, faced 334 balls for his 270, hitting 30 fours and seven sixes. It was his first double century in the Duleep Trophy and the eighth-highest individual score in the tournament’s history. The innings also took him past 4,000 runs in first-class cricket.
Kushagra, batting alongside his captain, made 101 off 132 balls with eight fours and five sixes for his maiden Duleep Trophy hundred. The pair added 230 runs together before Kushagra was caught in the deep off Tripurana Vijay. Kishan carried on and was eventually dismissed in the final over of the innings, caught by Ravichandran Smaran off Vijay at long-on.
Tail-end runs seal a big total
Mohammed Shami chipped in with a quick 28 down the order as East Zone pushed their total past the 700 mark. Tripurana Vijay was the most successful South Zone bowler, finishing with four wickets for 180 runs, while Chama Milind picked up two for 88. Mohammed Siraj went wicketless despite bowling a long spell.
What it means for the final
With East Zone’s first innings total now among the highest in Duleep Trophy history, Tilak Varma’s South Zone side will need a big response with the bat when their innings gets under way. The final runs from 6 to 10 September, and East Zone’s bowlers will fancy their chances of building on the runs already on the board.
