Duleep Trophy 2026 Final: Ishan Kishan led East Zone has performed brilliantly in the final of Duleep Trophy being played in Chennai and has almost won the trophy after 14 years, because after South Zone's first innings was reduced to 336 runs on the fourth day, East Zone has moved towards a draw in the first innings and the match.
Read :- South Zone's condition weak in Duleep Trophy final, 242 for 6 wickets in reply to East Zone's 708 runs.
According to BCCI rules, if the five-day match ends without any result (win-loss) in the knockout/final of Indian domestic cricket and Duleep Trophy, then the team gaining lead in the first innings is considered the winner. That means, in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final, East Zone is certain to be declared the winner on the basis of gaining a lead of 372 runs in the first innings.
Let us tell you that in the first session of the fourth day of the final match, the bowlers of East Zone completed their work by bowling out the first innings of South Zone for 336 runs. They took a huge lead of 372 runs in the first innings. But, captain Ishan Kishan has decided to bat again without following-on. Captain Tilak Verma struggled for the South Zone and got the support of CV Milind (43).
Tilak and Milind added 78 runs for the 7th wicket. But with Milind's dismissal, one end opened up and East Zone dismissed the rest of the batsmen quickly. Tilak looked to be on his way to score another century, but his innings tragically ended at 99 runs. Mukesh took three wickets, while three other bowlers took two wickets each.