Image credit: BCCI Domestic
East eventually declared at 388-7, sealing their third title as the final ended in a draw. Their previous triumph, in 2012-13, had also come at Chepauk. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the side’s vice-captain, had scored 92 in the semifinal while Kumar Kushagra hit a century in the final. In only his second firstclass game, the Shahbaz Ahmed replacement remained unbeaten on 116 on Day Five. Brief scores: East Zone 708 all out & 388-7 decl. (Quraishi 116*, Anukul 64). South Zone 336 all out.
We won this title as a group.
Everyone was taking care of each other,” Kishan said after the match. CHENNAI: Fourteen years is a long wait. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines “To be honest, it’s more about being one unit. There was plenty of promise beneath the experience. Shikhar Mohan marked his Duleep Trophy debut with two fifties in the penultimate game. And then came Kounain Quraishi. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
But when East Zone finally got their hands on the Duleep Trophy at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, it felt less like a finish line and more like the culmination of a journey.
East piled up a staggering 708, South Zone were bowled out for 336 and a 372-run first-innings lead left little room for a comeback. Skipper Ishan Kishan ensured East’s return to the top was memorable, smashing 270 in the first innings and 80 in the second, a combined 350 runs, the most by a batter in a Duleep final. The final, after all, had effectively been decided in the first two days.