East Zone ended the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final vs South Zone in a commanding position. Batting first after winning the toss, East posted 385 runs for the loss of four wickets from 79 overs. There was a big crowd in Chennai to watch the game, and their enthusiasm was rewarded by Ishan Kishanwho scored a brilliant century.
The left-handed batter was not out on 111 runs, which came off just 135 balls, with 14 boundaries and a six. Ishan, who is also the captain of the East Zone side, began his innings with caution after coming out to bat after the fall of Sudip Kumar Gharami for six runs. The 28-year-old was content to play the ball on its merit.
đź’Ż for Ishan Kishan đź‘Ź
He brings it up in style đź’Ą
The East Zone captain leading from the front with a superb knock 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/KQf5Km69nk#DuleepTrophy | #SZvEZpic.twitter.com/ql9el4G60Q
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 6, 2026
Once he got his eye in, Kishan started scoring runs with ease and reached his fifty off a mere 71 balls with the help of seven boundaries. The southpaw then upped the tempo and went after the South Zone bowlers and clobbered them to all parts of the ground.
With a boundary straight down the ground off Shreyas Gopal’s bowling, the batter reached the three-figure mark off 122 balls. Chennai crowd gave the batter a huge round of applause on reaching his ton.
Kumar Kushagra also scored runs at a brisk pace and was not out on 63 off 75 balls, including four boundaries and five sixes. The 21-year-old reached his fifty off just 67 balls and added an unbeaten 144 runs for the fifth wicket with Kishan.
Ishan Kishan, with this knock, has sent a reminder to the selectors about his talent in the longer formats as well. Ajit Agarkar, who didn’t attend the BCCI meeting on Thursday, was spotted by the cameras watching the action on Sunday. Kishan has scored 78 runs in two Tests in 2023, with a best of 52 not out.
Shikhar Mohan sizzles after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's knock
Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amassed 44 runs off 37 balls. He accumulated 14 runs off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling, including a massive six over the bowler’s head.
Abhimanyu Easwaran also took the aggressive route to score 86-ball 72 before he was run out. The 21-year-old Shikhar Mohan entertained the crowd with dazzling shots to score 85 runs from 120 balls. The batter hit nine boundaries and three sixes. Just when he looked set for a hundred, the batter chopped the ball back onto his stumps to give CV Milind his second wicket of the day.