Ishan Kishan scored 350 runs as East Zone beat South Zone on first-innings lead in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final and ended a 13-year title wait

New Delhi: East Zone finally ended its long Duleep Trophy wait, and Ishan Kishan played the biggest role in the historic victory.

Kishan scored a stunning 350 runs across two innings as East Zone dominated South Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The five-day final ended in a draw on September 10, but East Zone won the trophy because of its massive 372-run first-innings lead.

The victory ended East Zone’s wait for the trophy since the 2012-13 season. It also gave the team its third Duleep Trophy title after previous victories in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

East Zone Take Control With 708 Runs

East Zone won the toss and chose to bat first. The decision quickly paid off.

Ishan Kishan led from the front and produced one of the biggest innings in Duleep Trophy final history. He scored 270 runs from 334 balls, hitting 30 fours and seven sixes. His marathon innings helped East Zone reach 708 runs.

Kishan combined patience with aggression. He spent long periods at the crease before attacking the spinners whenever they offered him scoring opportunities.

His 270 also became the second-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final. Only Raman Lamba’s 320 for North Zone in the 1987-88 final remains ahead of him. Kishan also became the first East Zone batter to score a double century in a Duleep Trophy final.

However, his 270 was not his career-best first-class score. Kishan’s highest score in the format remains 273.

Kumar Kushagra Adds a Century

Kishan did not carry the entire batting effort alone.

Kumar Kushagra scored 101, while Shikhar Mohan made 85 and Abhimanyu Easwaran contributed 72. These performances helped East Zone build a huge total and put South Zone under immediate pressure.

South Zone’s Tripurana Vijay was their most successful bowler. He finished with four wickets, but East Zone’s batting depth allowed the team to cross the 700-run mark.

By the time East Zone finished its first innings, South Zone faced an enormous challenge.

Tilak Varma Misses Century By One Run

South Zone needed a strong response, but East Zone’s bowlers kept the pressure on.

Captain Tilak Varma produced the best resistance. He faced 211 balls and scored 99 runs, but he missed a century by just one run. East Zone’s Kounain Quraishi dismissed Varma and ended South Zone’s strongest attempt to fight back.

Devdutt Padikkal scored 62, but South Zone could not maintain the same resistance throughout the innings.

East Zone eventually bowled South Zone out for 336 runs. That gave East Zone a huge 372-run first-innings lead.

Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar Lead the Game

East Zone’s bowling attack also played an important role in the victory.

Mukesh Kumar produced a strong spell, while Mohammed Shami used his experience to trouble the South Zone batters. Shami’s disciplined bowling helped East Zone maintain control during South Zone’s first innings.

The 372-run lead meant East Zone already had the advantage it needed if the final ended without a result.

East Zone Choose to Bat Again

East Zone had the option to enforce the follow-on, but captain Ishan Kishan chose to bat again.

The decision allowed East Zone to increase its advantage even further.

Kishan returned to the middle and immediately attacked again. He scored 80 runs from 98 balls, including nine fours and three sixes. That took his match tally to an impressive 350 runs.

Kishan’s two innings showed two different sides of his batting. His first-innings 270 showed patience and endurance, while his second-innings 80 came at a much faster pace.

Kounain Quraishi Produces a Maiden Century

Another major highlight came from Md Kounain Quraishi.

The young East Zone player scored his maiden first-class century, adding another major moment to an already dominant final. His unbeaten 116 helped East Zone push its second-innings total to 388 for seven.

East Zone finished the match with an overall lead of 760 runs.

At that point, South Zone had no realistic chance of chasing the target in the remaining time. The two captains eventually shook hands, and the final ended in a draw.

Because East Zone had already taken a 372-run first-innings lead, the team was declared the winner.

Ishan Kishan Strengthens His Red-Ball Case

Kishan’s performance has also added weight to the conversation around his red-ball future.

The East Zone captain entered the final with pressure to deliver, but he responded with one of the biggest performances of his first-class career.

His 270 was not only the second-highest score in a Duleep Trophy final but also his first double century in the competition. He then added another 80 in the second innings to finish with 350 runs in the match.

Kishan himself credited a clearer mindset for his performance. He said that avoiding overthinking and unnecessary expectations helped him play more freely and focus on his role as a batter.

Tilak Varma Also Makes a Strong Case

Although South Zone lost the final, Tilak Varma had an impressive tournament.

His 99 in the final showed his ability to bat for long periods in difficult conditions. He missed his century by only one run, but his knock helped South Zone delay East Zone’s victory.

Varma was also named Player of the Tournament, rewarding his consistent performances throughout the competition.

East Zone End a 13-Year Wait

East Zone last won the Duleep Trophy in 2012-13, when it defeated Central Zone on first-innings lead. The team had also won the title in 2011-12, making this its third championship.

The 2026-27 victory therefore carries extra significance.

East Zone dominated the final with both bat and ball. The team scored 708 in the first innings, restricted South Zone to 336, and then added 388/7 in the second innings.

But the biggest story belongs to Ishan Kishan.

He scored 270.
Then he scored 80.
He finished with 350 runs.
And he helped East Zone end a 13-year wait For Duleep Trophy.