East Zone Triumphs in Duleep Trophy After 13-Year Wait

In a thrilling finale at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, East Zone triumphed over South Zone to claim the Duleep Trophy for the third time, ending a 13-year wait. Led by captain Ishan Kishan, who scored a remarkable 270 in the first innings, and Md Kounain Quraishi's maiden century, East Zone showcased exceptional talent. The match concluded with jubilant celebrations as they declared their innings, solidifying their victory. This article delves into the key performances and moments that defined this championship win.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 10, 2026, 16:23 IST

East Zone Claims Duleep Trophy Title

Photo: @cricsam02/X

Chennai, Sep 10: East Zone secured the Duleep Trophy for the third time on Thursday, defeating South Zone by virtue of their first innings performance at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. This victory marks the end of a 13-year title drought, with their last championship win occurring in the 2012–13 season.

On the final day, East Zone resumed their second innings, bolstered by a maiden first-class century from Md Kounain Quraishi, who scored an impressive 116 not out off 190 balls, alongside Anukul Roy's half-century of 64. They declared at 388/7 in 99.2 overs, leading to immediate celebrations for the Ishan Kishan-led team.

The match had shifted significantly in favor of East Zone after they amassed a staggering 708 runs in their first innings, highlighted by captain Ishan Kishan’s remarkable 270 and Kumar Kushagra’s 101. Kishan added 80 runs in the second innings, bringing his total for the match to 350 runs.

Emerging talents from Jharkhand played a crucial role in East Zone's success. Alongside Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan made a notable debut with 85 runs, continuing his strong form from the previous domestic season. Their contributions, along with Kishan's, were vital to East Zone's championship win.

Earlier in the day, Quraishi and Roy extended their seventh-wicket partnership to 150 runs, pushing East Zone's total past the 700-run mark. South Zone faced a five-run penalty in the 73rd over due to a slow over-rate, following discussions between match officials and South Zone captain Tilak Varma.

Quraishi celebrated his maiden first-class century in the 96th over, driving pacer CV Milind for two runs to reach three figures, receiving a standing ovation from his teammates. He followed this by hitting back-to-back sixes off spinner Tripurana Vijay. Roy completed his half-century by steering Shaik Rasheed for a single in the 89th over, but was dismissed shortly after for 64.

After Quraishi safely played a delivery from Milind in the 100th over, skipper Kishan declared the innings from the pavilion, leading to the umpires removing the bails and confirming East Zone as the champions.

Despite the challenging pitch conditions and high humidity, South Zone pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a commendable performance, bowling nine consecutive overs in a tough spell, even as the match's outcome was nearly settled. Following the declaration, East Zone players celebrated on the field, with Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi joyfully waving to the cheering crowd.

Brief scores: East Zone 708 and 388/7 in 99.2 overs (Md Kounain Quraishi 116, Ishan Kishan 80; MD Nidheesh 2-28, CV Milind 1-27) drew with South Zone 336 (Tilak Varma 99; Mukesh Kumar 3-62)