Young Jharkhand batter Shikhar Mohan (IANS Image)
Mohan Shines on Duleep Trophy Debut with 85 Runs
Shikhar Mohan, the Jharkhand batter, made a notable impact in his Duleep Trophy debut, scoring 85 runs against South Zone in the 2026/27 final. His performance was bolstered by captain Ishan Kishan’s guidance throughout his innings.
Mohan credited Kishan for providing critical advice on shot selection during the match. “Ishan bhaiya was giving me a lot of advice while batting. He was telling me what shot is on and what is not. Thanks to that, we had a great partnership,” Mohan stated after the game.
The young batter secured his place in the East Zone team following a stellar Ranji Trophy season, where he accumulated 613 runs at an average of 55.72. Although primarily an opener, he adeptly transitioned to the No. 3 position with teammates Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening the innings.
Reflecting on his journey, Mohan expressed satisfaction with his progress: “My journey has been very good so far. My first season in Ranji Trophy went very well, so coming into this match, I just wanted to carry that forward. I was looking to maintain that form from the Ranji Trophy.”
Facing South Zone’s aggressive short-ball strategy, which featured five fielders on the leg side, Mohan displayed patience but ultimately fell to Chama Milind after an inside edge from a bouncer. “The plan was that I would leave the ball first, and when they get tired, they will give me chances to score runs. I made a poor decision and got out,” he admitted.
Mohan also credited his experience in the Jharkhand T20 League for helping him manage the pressure of playing in front of a large crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.