Chennai: South Zone face a massive challenge in the Duleep Trophy final after East Zone posted a mammoth 708 in their first innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The spotlight on Day 3 is firmly on South Zone captain Tilak Varma and India batter Devdutt Padikkal as they look to lead their side’s response after a dominant batting display from East.
East Zone’s commanding total was built around a sensational 270 from captain Ishan Kishan, while Kumar Kushagra contributed a crucial century. The two-day batting effort has put East in a position of considerable strength as they chase their first Duleep Trophy title since the 2012-13 season.
Ishan Kishan’s historic 270 takes centre stage
Kishan produced the defining performance of the final so far, scoring 270 off 334 deliveries. His innings included 30 fours and seven sixes and was one of the most impressive individual displays in the history of the Duleep Trophy final.
The East Zone captain resumed Day 2 on 111 not out and continued his assault on the South Zone bowling attack. He initially concentrated on building partnerships before accelerating dramatically after reaching his double century.
Kishan became only the second captain to score a double century in a Duleep Trophy final. He subsequently moved beyond 250 and helped East Zone cross the 600-run mark.
The Chennai heat eventually forced Kishan to briefly retire because of fatigue. However, he returned to the crease later in the innings and continued his pursuit of a potential triple century.
His attempt to reach 300 eventually ended at 270 when he was caught near long-on while attempting another attacking stroke. Tripurana Vijay took the wicket and finished with four wickets as South Zone finally bowled East out for 708.
Kumar Kushagra provides crucial support
While Kishan grabbed the headlines, Kumar Kushagra played an equally important supporting role.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 101 off 132 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes. It was his sixth first-class century and his first hundred in the Duleep Trophy.
Kishan and Kushagra added 144 runs for East Zone, extending the advantage created by the opening-day batters. Kushagra’s dismissal shortly before lunch ended the partnership, but it did little to stop East’s momentum.
East eventually moved beyond 700 before being bowled out for 708 from 163 overs. It was only the third 700-plus first-class total recorded at Chepauk, highlighting the scale of East Zone’s batting performance.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s contribution
The final has also provided another opportunity for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to gain valuable experience in first-class cricket.
The young East Zone opener scored 72 on the opening day, helping provide the platform for the huge total. Abhimanyu Easwaran also contributed 85, while Shikhar Mohan made a useful 72 as East’s top order repeatedly frustrated the South Zone attack.
Sooryavanshi’s performance is particularly significant given the attention surrounding his rapid rise. Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan has advised the youngster to learn from players such as Kishan, particularly when it comes to constructing long innings.
For a player still at the beginning of his first-class career, spending time alongside established batters in a high-profile final could prove valuable for his development.
South Zone’s bowling attack struggles
South Zone’s bowlers had few answers to East Zone’s aggressive batting during the opening two days.
Mohammed Siraj, MD Nidheesh, Shreyas Gopal and Tripurana Vijay were among those tasked with breaking the partnerships, but East’s batters repeatedly managed to score freely.
Vijay eventually provided South Zone with some reward, taking four wickets and dismissing Kishan for 270. But by then, East had already accumulated 708 runs.
The size of the total means South Zone cannot afford a slow or uncertain start with the bat.
Tilak Varma and Devdutt Padikkal under pressure
South Zone captain Tilak Varma now carries significant responsibility.
Varma played an important role in South Zone’s semi-final victory over North Zone, scoring a century in the first innings and then contributing an unbeaten half-century in the successful chase. His leadership and batting will be crucial if South are to mount a serious challenge against East.
Devdutt Padikkal is another key player to watch.
The Karnataka batter recently returned from an impressive Test series in which he scored two hundreds and was named Player of the Series. His inclusion in the South Zone team gives the side considerable experience at the top of the batting order.
Padikkal will now have to transfer that red-ball form into the Duleep Trophy final against an East Zone bowling attack that includes Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar.
East Zone have history on their side
East Zone are seeking their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years.
Their previous title came in the 2012-13 season, when they defeated Central Zone in the final. South Zone, meanwhile, have a much stronger record in the competition, having won the trophy 12 times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2023.
The contrast makes the current position particularly interesting.
East have the scoreboard advantage, while South have a more successful historical record in the competition. But with 708 already on the board, South will need a substantial batting effort merely to keep the final competitive.
What South Zone need to do on Day 3
The immediate objective for South Zone is simple: survive the new-ball period and build partnerships.
With East having scored at a strong rate throughout their innings, South cannot afford a collapse. The first session could determine whether the contest develops into a genuine final or becomes a one-sided affair.
Tilak Varma, Padikkal, Narayan Jagadeesan and Shaik Rasheed will be among the batters expected to shoulder the responsibility.
East, meanwhile, will look to use the advantage created by their enormous first-innings total. Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Abhijit Sarkar give them a varied pace attack, while Anukul Roy offers an additional all-round option.
Ishan Kishan’s India ambitions get another boost
Beyond the trophy itself, Kishan’s performance could have implications for his future in India’s red-ball setup.
The 270 was more than a match-defining innings. It demonstrated his ability to bat for an extended period in first-class cricket while maintaining a high scoring rate.
Kishan has previously experienced a difficult period in his career, including losing his BCCI central contract. He has since focused on domestic cricket and leadership opportunities, and his performance in the Duleep Trophy final represents another strong statement of intent.
At 270, Kishan narrowly missed what would have been a rare triple century. Nevertheless, his contribution has already placed East Zone in an exceptionally strong position.
A mountain for South Zone to climb
With East Zone dismissed for 708, South Zone have been left with an enormous task.
The final still has plenty of cricket remaining, but the balance has clearly shifted towards East after two days of batting dominance. South will need substantial contributions from Varma, Padikkal and the rest of their top order to prevent East’s bowlers from taking control.
For East Zone, the objective will be to convert Kishan’s historic innings and the team’s record-setting batting performance into their first Duleep Trophy title in more than a decade.
Day 3 therefore promises to be decisive. South Zone’s response to 708 will determine whether they can bring themselves back into the final or whether East Zone strengthen their grip on the trophy.