The Duleep Trophy final ended in a draw. However, East Zone were still crowned champions. South Zone had to settle for second place. This happened because of a special rule in the tournament.
The rule is called the first-innings rule. If the final ends in a draw, the team with the first-innings lead wins the trophy. This rule is also used in the Ranji Trophy final and the Irani Trophy. East Zone had a huge first-innings lead. So they were the deserved winners.
The final was played in Chennai. East Zone won the title after 13 years. The previous edition was won by Central Zone. South Zone last won in 2023. West Zone were the first-ever winners in 1961. East Zone had players like Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Mohammed Shami. South Zone had Mohammed Siraj and Tilak Varma.
East Zone scored 708 in their first innings. Captain Ishan Kishan led the way with 270 runs. South Zone replied with only 336 runs. Mukesh Kumar was the best bowler for East Zone with 3 for 62. South Zone’s captain Tilak Varma fell one run short of a century. East Zone took a lead of 372 runs.
The East Zone were not done yet. In their second innings, they reached 388 for 7 before declaring. Ishan Kishan scored 80. Kounain Quraishi scored 116. South Zone then needed 761 runs to win. That was impossible. The match was called off. It ended in a draw. East Zone took home the trophy.
Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match. He scored 350 runs in the game. Tilak Varma was named Player of the Tournament. Kishan explained his plan after the match. He said a captain must understand the situation. East Zone batted for about two days. He knew the match was basically a first-innings shootout. Their main goal was to take 10 South Zone wickets and get the lead. He said if the lead was enough to enforce a follow-on, there was no reason to bat again in the heat.
Here are the Top 5 Bowlers from Duleep Trophy:
Top 5 Bowlers from Duleep Trophy 2026
1. Mukesh Kumar: The Leader of the Attack
Mukesh Kumar led the East Zone’s title-winning bowling attack. He finished as the joint highest wicket taker with 12 wickets in 3 matches. His best bowling was 4 for 44. He averaged 14.91 with an economy of 3.03. He took 7 for 100 in the semi-final. In the final he took 3 for 62. He was the most valuable bowler.
2. Abid Mushtaq: The Spin Wizard
Abid Mushtaq was North Zone’s standout spinner. He took 12 wickets in 2 matches. His best was 5 for 39. He averaged 16.25 with an economy of 2.49. On a red soil pitch, he bowled West Zone out for 187. He then took four more wickets as West Zone collapsed. His control was amazing.
3. Abhijit Sarkar: The Destructive Pacer
Abhijit Sarkar formed a strong new ball partnership with Mukesh Kumar. He took 10 wickets in 3 matches for East Zone. His best was 5 for 20. He averaged 13.20 with an economy of 2.69. In the quarter final he destroyed the North East Zone with a triple wicket maiden. He also took 3 for 38 in the semi-final.
4. MD Nidheesh: The Tail End Destroyer
MD Nidheesh was South Zone’s most potent weapon. He took 9 wickets in 2 matches. His best was 5 for 56. He averaged 19.77 with an economy of 3.44. In the semi-final against North Zone, he cleaned up the tail. That spell limited North Zone’s lead. South Zone won by 7 wickets.
5. Tanush Kotian: The Lone Warrior
Tanush Kotian was West Zone’s best performer in the tournament. He played only one match. He took 8 wickets against North Zone. His best was 4 for 46. He averaged 14.75 with an economy of 3.38. He took 4 for 46 and 4 for 72. His match figures were 8 for 118.
FAQs
Q. Who was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Duleep Trophy?
A. Mukesh Kumar and Abid Mushtaq took 12 wickets each.
Q. How many wickets did Abhijit Sarkar take?
A. Abhijit Sarkar took 10 wickets in three matches.
Q. How many wickets did MD Nidheesh take?
A. MD Nidheesh took nine wickets in two matches.
Q. Who was West Zone’s best bowler?
A. Tanush Kotian was West Zone’s best bowler.
Q. What were Tanush Kotian’s match figures?
A. Tanush Kotian took 8 wickets for 118 runs.
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