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Ishan Kishan-led East Zone have won the Duleep Trophy 2026 title after the final against West Zone ended in a draw on September 10. Despite the match finishing without an outright result, East Zone were declared champions because of their commanding first-innings lead.
East Zone dominated the contest from the start, posting a massive 708 runs in their first innings. West Zone struggled in reply and were bowled out for 336 runs, giving East Zone a huge 372-run first-innings advantage.
East Zone Win Duleep Trophy 2026 Despite Final Ending in a Draw
The Duleep Trophy final went into the fifth day with East Zone in a strong position. After taking a massive lead in the first innings, the team continued to control the match in the second innings.
East Zone eventually reached 388/7 in their second innings before the available playing time came to an end. With neither side able to force an outright result, the match was officially recorded as a draw.
However, the first-innings advantage meant East Zone walked away with the coveted trophy.
Why Did East Zone Get the Trophy After the Duleep Trophy Final Was Drawn?
The first-innings lead proved to be the deciding factor in the final.
In domestic first-class knockout matches such as the Duleep Trophy, when a final remains undecided at the end of the allotted playing time, the team with the first-innings lead is declared the winner.
East Zone scored 708 runs, while West Zone managed only 336. This gave Ishan Kishan's team a massive 372-run lead.
West Zone were unable to overcome that deficit before the match ended. Therefore, even though the final was drawn, East Zone were declared the Duleep Trophy 2026 champions.
Ishan Kishan Smashes 270 as East Zone Take Control of Duleep Trophy Final
Captain Ishan Kishan was the biggest star of the final with a sensational batting performance.
Batting first, Kishan produced a marathon 270-run knock, taking the West Zone bowlers apart with aggressive strokeplay. His innings included 30 fours and seven sixes.
His huge score played a major role in helping East Zone cross the 700-run mark and establish complete control over the match.
Kumar Kushagra Hits Century as East Zone Post Massive 708 Runs
Kumar Kushagra provided excellent support to Kishan with a brilliant century.
Kushagra scored 101 runs, including eight fours and five sixes. Shikhar Mohan also made an important contribution with 85 runs.
The combined efforts of the East Zone batters helped the team finish their first innings on an imposing 708 runs.
West Zone Bowled Out for 336 as East Zone Take 372-Run First-Innings Lead
West Zone found themselves under immense pressure after East Zone's mammoth total.
The team was eventually dismissed for 336 runs, leaving them 372 runs behind. This was a crucial moment in the final as the first-innings lead later became the deciding factor in determining the champion.
Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami Lead East Zone's Bowling Attack
East Zone's bowlers also played an important role in the team's title-winning performance.
Mukesh Kumar was the leading wicket-taker with three wickets. Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Kounain Qureshi and Shikhar Mohan picked up two wickets each.
Their efforts ensured that West Zone could not get close to East Zone's first-innings total.
East Zone Maintain Dominance as Ishan Kishan Scores Another 80 Runs
East Zone continued their dominance in the second innings as well.
The team scored 388/7 before the match came to an end. Ishan Kishan once again made an impact, scoring 80 runs with nine fours and three sixes.
His performances in both innings made him the standout player of the contest.
Ishan Kishan Named Player of the Match After Outstanding Final
Ishan Kishan's contributions with the bat were central to East Zone's success.
After scoring 270 runs in the first innings and following it up with another 80 in the second, Kishan was named Player of the Match.
His leadership and batting performance helped East Zone secure the title despite the final ending without an outright result.
Duleep Trophy Final Ends in a Draw, But East Zone Lift the Title
The final ended in a draw after the scheduled playing time ran out. Both teams' captains agreed to bring the contest to an end with East Zone on 388/7 in their second innings.
However, the result did not prevent East Zone from lifting the trophy. Their 372-run first-innings lead gave them the decisive advantage under the tournament's knockout rules.
As a result, Ishan Kishan's East Zone were crowned Duleep Trophy 2026 champions, completing a memorable campaign with a dominant performance in the final.
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