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The Duleep Trophy 2026 final ended in a draw, but East Zone were crowned champions after taking a massive first-innings lead over South Zone. The title win ended East Zone's 13-year wait for the prestigious domestic trophy.
However, the final also produced a heated moment between Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Tilak Varma. An on-field exchange between the two players on the fourth day caught attention, especially after Tilak approached the umpire with a complaint.
Now, a newly surfaced audio clip has revealed Vaibhav's response to the incident and provided another angle to the much-discussed exchange.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi-Tilak Varma Clash in Duleep Trophy Final: What Happened?
The incident took place on the fourth morning of the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
South Zone were under serious pressure after losing eight wickets in their first innings. They were still a long way behind East Zone's huge total of 708 runs, while Tilak Varma was trying to keep his team's innings alive.
During this phase, Vaibhav Suryavanshi approached Tilak. The two players exchanged a few words, and the situation appeared tense for a brief period.
Vaibhav also made slight shoulder-to-shoulder contact with Tilak during the interaction. The South Zone captain subsequently brought the matter to the attention of the on-field umpire.
Tilak Varma Complains to Umpire After On-Field Exchange With Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Tilak's complaint brought the incident into focus as the two teams continued their battle in the Duleep Trophy final.
While the exact conversation between the players was not immediately clear, an audio clip that emerged after the match has now provided more information about Vaibhav's reaction.
The 15-year-old East Zone player appeared to explain his side of the incident to the umpire.
'Sir, This Happened With Me Too': Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Response Goes Viral
In the newly surfaced audio, Vaibhav can be heard referring to an incident from the first innings while speaking to the umpire.
He said:
"Sir, this happened with me too in the first innings."
Vaibhav's response suggested that he believed a similar incident had happened to him earlier in the match. His comment has now added another layer to the exchange between the two players.
What Happened Between Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Tilak Varma in the First Innings?
The earlier incident dates back to the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final.
East Zone's openers had made an aggressive start against the South Zone bowling attack. Vaibhav, despite being only 15 years old, showed no hesitation and attacked the bowlers from the beginning.
During one over from Mohammed Siraj, Vaibhav smashed two fours and a six. His aggressive approach quickly became one of the talking points of the opening session.
At the same time, Tilak Varma's voice was reportedly picked up by the stump microphone as he made a comment about Vaibhav.
Vaibhav went on to score 49 runs and shared a 100-run opening partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran. His innings eventually ended when Chama V Milind dismissed him.
East Zone Post 708 Runs as Ishan Kishan's Double Century Puts South Zone Under Pressure
After Vaibhav's quick start, East Zone continued to dominate with the bat.
The team eventually posted a mammoth 708 runs in their first innings. Captain Ishan Kishan was the star performer, producing a brilliant double century to put East Zone in complete control.
The massive total created enormous pressure on South Zone, who needed a strong batting effort to stay in the contest.
Tilak Varma Scores 99 Runs but South Zone Collapse Gives East Zone Huge Lead
Tilak Varma was among the few South Zone batters who managed to resist the East Zone attack.
The South Zone captain played a patient innings and scored 99 runs from 211 balls. He came agonisingly close to a century but could not reach the three-figure mark.
South Zone eventually lost all their wickets for 336 runs in 107.3 overs.
As a result, East Zone secured a massive 372-run first-innings lead, putting themselves in a commanding position in the final.
East Zone Take 372-Run Lead After South Zone Are Bowled Out for 336
The 372-run advantage proved to be the key difference between the two teams.
East Zone's bowlers kept South Zone under pressure throughout the innings, with Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar playing important roles in restricting the opposition batting lineup.
Despite Tilak's determined 99, South Zone could not prevent East Zone from securing a huge advantage.
East Zone Score 388/7 Before Declaring in the Second Innings
With a massive first-innings lead already in their favour, East Zone continued their strong batting performance in the second innings.
They eventually declared at 388/7 after 99.2 overs.
Mohammed Kounain Qureshi remained unbeaten on 116 runs, while Ishan Kishan contributed another 80 runs. For South Zone, MD Nidhish finished with figures of 2/28.
East Zone Clinch Duleep Trophy After 13 Years Despite Final Ending in Draw
The match eventually ended in a draw, but East Zone had already done enough to secure the championship.
Their 372-run first-innings lead gave them the decisive advantage, allowing Ishan Kishan's side to lift the Duleep Trophy.
The victory ended East Zone's 13-year wait for the title and added another memorable chapter to the team's domestic cricket history.
New VIDEO Reveals Another Angle to Vaibhav Suryavanshi-Tilak Varma Incident
The Duleep Trophy final will be remembered not only for East Zone's dominant title-winning performance but also for the exchange between Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Tilak Varma.
While Tilak's complaint to the umpire initially brought attention to the fourth-day incident, Vaibhav's comment — "Sir, this happened with me too in the first innings" - has now revealed his side of the story.
The newly surfaced audio has given fans another perspective on the incident and made the Vaibhav-Tilak exchange one of the most talked-about moments of the Duleep Trophy final.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan Leads East Zone to Duleep Trophy 2026 Win
