East Zone were crowned champions of the Duleep Trophy 2026 after their final against South Zone ended in a draw at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Although the match did not produce an outright winner, East Zone’s commanding first-innings performance gave them enough of an advantage to secure the championship.
The East Zone batting unit dominated the opening stages of the final after they chose to bat first, piling up 708 runs. Captain Ishan Kishan led from the front with a spectacular 270, while Kumar Kushagra added a century. South Zone fought back with a few notable performances but could not overcome the huge deficit.
East Zone pile up 708 as Ishan Kishan leads the way
East Zone made full use of the batting-friendly conditions after winning the toss and electing to bat. Kishan produced a remarkable innings of 270, combining aggressive strokeplay with the patience required to build a huge first-class score. Kushagra provided excellent support with 101, helping East Zone cross the 700-run mark. South Zone’s Tripura Vijay was their most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4/180.
South Zone eventually responded with 336 in their first innings. Tilak Varma fought hard for his side and came agonisingly close to a century, but was dismissed for 99. Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar picked up important wickets as East Zone’s bowling attack ensured they retained a commanding advantage.
South Zone fall 372 runs behind as East Zone take control
South Zone’s total left East Zone with a massive 372-run first-innings lead. Rather than enforcing the follow-on, East Zone opted to bat again and continued their dominance with the bat. Kishan added another 80 to his tally in the second innings, while Md Kounain Qureshi produced an unbeaten 116 to register his maiden first-class century.
Anukul Roy also remained unbeaten on 60, while Shikhar Mohan contributed 52 as East Zone continued to extend their lead. East Zone eventually declared at 388/7 on the fifth afternoon, leaving South Zone with an impossible target and very little time to attempt a chase. With an outright result out of reach, the two captains shook hands and brought the final to an end.
Fans react as East Zone secure Duleep Trophy title
The result sparked plenty of discussion among cricket fans, with East Zone’s dominant batting performance and their massive first-innings lead becoming major talking points. Kishan’s 270 and Tilak’s heartbreaking dismissal for 99 also drew significant attention from fans following the final.
East Zone’s championship triumph brought the Duleep Trophy final to a close on a high, while Kishan was named Player of the Match after finishing with 350 runs across the match. Tilak was named Player of the Series for his performances throughout the competition.
