Ishan Kishan’s 270-run blitzkrieg leaves South Zone a mountain to climb on Day 2

Brief Score: East Zone (708 all-out in 163 overs) at Stumps on Day 2 in Chennai vs South Zone. Ishan Kishan (270), Kumar Kushagra (101).

A monumental 270 from skipper Ishan Kishan propelled East Zone to a commanding 708 on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy final, leaving South Zone facing a daunting fight to keep up.

Over 163 overs, East Zone turned an already strong position into utter dominance overnight, with Kishan producing the decisive innings of the match. Kumar Kushagra’s attacking century and valuable contributions from the lower order ensured that the South Zone bowlers stayed on the field for virtually the entire two days in the Chennai heat.

Duleep Trophy Final: Day 2: Highlighting

Before the last wicket fell, East Zone crossed the psychological mark of 700 runs and dominated the match. South Zone now face the difficult task of responding to a colossal first innings total against a considerably fresher bowling attack.

KISHAN LEADS FROM THE FRONT

Kishan was the undisputed star of the day, producing a marathon 270 off 334 balls in an innings that combined patience, authority and sustained aggression. The left-hander hit 30 fours and seven sixes, ensuring East Zone continued to score at a healthy pace despite the mere length of the innings.

The physical demands of his knock showed after he crossed 250, with severe exhaustion forcing the East Zone skipper to step down temporarily. However, Kishan returned to the crease later in the innings and continued his remarkable stay before finally falling for 270.

His dismissal ended one of the most significant innings of the domestic season with Kishan caught by Tripurana Vijay’s Smaran Ravichandran. By then, however, the damage had already been done.

Kishan’s innings was particularly important as it prevented the South Zone from finding any sustained momentum. Every time the bowlers seemed capable of slowing the East Zone’s progress, the skipper found a way to regain control.

KUSHAGRA JOINS THE PARTY

Partner with your captain through the initial encounter was Kumar Kushagrawho produced a brilliant 101 from just 132 deliveries. The young wicket-taker provided the ideal attacking complement to Kishan’s marathon as he hit eight fours and five sixes.

Together they shared a crucial partnership of 230 runs for the fifth wicket, a stand that effectively put South Zone out of contention before the innings entered the second phase. Kumar Kushagra whipped up a fiddle celebration in the Duleep Trophy final. (Image: PTI)

Kushagra attacked whenever the pitchers tried to settle into the defensive lines and kept the pressure on an already overworked offense. His innings eventually ended when he was caught by Tripurana Vijay’s Chama V Milind, but by then the partnership had put the East Zone firmly in control.

BOWLERS SOUTH ZONE SHOULD

For the South Zone bowling attack, day two was an exercise in endurance. Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj found little help from the flat and unresponsive surface, going wicketless over 25 overs while conceding 140 runs.

The workload fell heavily on the spin department. Off-spin Tripurana Vijay bowled a mammoth 42 overs to become South Zone’s most successful bowler as he finished with figures of 4 for 180. Vijay ended up getting involved with both Kushagra and Kishan, but the breakthrough came after East Zone built up a huge lead.

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was similarly asked to shoulder a heavy burden, sending down 42 overs for two wickets. Chama V Milind contributed two wickets from 21 overs while Shaik Rasheed picked up the wicket of Anukul Roy.

LOWER ORDER PUSHES EAST 700

Even after the two great centuries were over, the southern zone did not find any immediate relief.

Anukul Roy produced a composed 45 off 98 balls, adding further stability to the middle and lower order before being trapped leg by Shaik Rasheed. Md Kounain Quraishi followed with a stubborn 40 off 91 deliveries, thwarting the onslaught and extending the East Zone innings deeper into the day. Ishan Kishan and Anukul Roy put up a 140-run stand. (Image: PTI)

Mohammed Shami then added a brisk 28 off 51 balls, smashing four boundaries and helping push the total past 700 before the innings finally ended on 708.

A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IN THE SOUTH ZONE

South Zone now faces a huge challenge on Day 3. After spending 163 overs in the field, she needs to quickly reset and find a way to overcome the physical and mental demands of the punishing two-day stretch.

The East Zone, meanwhile, will take over the field with all the momentum behind them. With Shami and Mukesh Kumar leading the pace of the attack and having a huge number of first innings to defend, they are firmly in the driver’s seat.

For South Zone, the immediate goal is simple: survive, rebuild and find a way back into the competition that East Zone has dominated since Kishan took over.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

07 Sep 2026 17:59 IST