East Zone end 13-year wait to clinch Duleep Trophy

The East Zone cricket team finally claimed the Duleep Trophy after a 13-year drought on Thursday, defeating the South Zone at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The historic victory marked East Zone's third Duleep Trophy title, with their last win coming during the 2012-13 season. Captain Ishan Kishan led the team to a third consecutive Duleep Trophy title, with his match-winning 270 runs in the first innings forming the backbone of their 708-run total.

Kishan's innings, combined with a century from Kumar Kushagra, established a formidable foundation for his side. The team's success was bolstered by the impressive performances of emerging talents from Jharkhand, notably Shikhar Mohan, who scored a commendable 85 on his Duleep Trophy debut. The decisive moment arrived when East Zone declared at 388/7 after 99.2 overs, putting South Zone on the backfoot.

Jharkhand's Anukul Roy and Md Kounain Quraishi played pivotal roles in the chase, with Quraishi scoring a century and Roy a patient 64. The final day saw East Zone consolidate their advantage, and with Ishan Kishan declaring shortly after tea, the team secured their third Duleep Trophy title. The moment was celebrated with gusto as soon as the declaration was made.