Ishan Kishan scores 270 in Duleep Trophy final as East Zone dominates South Zone

Ishan Kishan produced a superb batting performance in difficult humid conditions as East Zone posted a huge 708 against South Zone on the second day of the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Kishan scored a massive 270, once again showing the selectors his ability in red-ball cricket. Three national selectors were present to watch his innings. He batted for 522 minutes and faced 334 balls over nearly two days. His innings was the biggest highlight of a dominant East Zone batting display.

Kumar Kushagra also played an important role, scoring his sixth first-class century. The 21-year-old made 101 off 132 balls, with eight fours and five sixes. He attacked the South Zone bowlers with shots on both sides of the wicket. However, he could not stay till the end. His casual pull against a short delivery from Tripurana Vijay ended in the hands of CV Milind at square leg.

Kishan came close to joining the small group of batters who have scored triple centuries in the Duleep Trophy. Raman Lamba and Gagan Khoda are the only batters to have achieved the feat, in 1987 and 2001 respectively. Kishan eventually fell on 270, but his innings remained one of the most impressive knocks of the tournament. There was a touch of Virender Sehwag in his batting — he attacked with confidence, scored quickly when needed and made full use of the conditions.

Kishan reached his first century on Sunday in just 122 balls. His second hundred took longer, with the next 100 runs coming off 148 balls. The slowdown was not because of a difficult pitch or a special spell from the South Zone bowlers. Instead, Kishan appeared to be taking fewer risks, focusing on tiring out the bowlers and helping East Zone build a huge total. He completed his second first-class double century in 270 balls, hitting part-time spinner Devdutt Padikkal through the covers for a boundary.

After reaching 200, Kishan shifted gears again. He scored the next 50 runs in just 31 balls, taking on Shreyas Gopal and Tripurana Vijay. Both spinners were hit for two sixes each. Kishan scored 94 runs off 100 balls against Shreyas, while Vijay conceded 70 runs from 88 balls. Pulls and drives remained Kishan's main scoring shots. He hit 22 fours through those strokes.

South Zone's bowlers had very little impact for the second day in a row. Mohammed Siraj, their main fast bowler, could not trouble the East Zone batters as the flat pitch and high-quality batting made life difficult for the bowling attack. Kishan also had one uncomfortable moment when left-arm pacer CV Milind hit him on the abdomen. He received quick medical attention and continued batting.

After a marathon innings, fatigue finally caught up with Kishan. He walked off the field retired hurt after scoring 250 off 301 balls, with 27 fours and seven sixes. His innings had already done most of the damage.

East Zone added 106 runs in the first session and another 135 after lunch. Kishan also shared a 230-run partnership with Kushagra for the fifth wicket in just 290 balls. He then added 140 with Anukul Roy, who scored 40 off 86 balls, for the sixth wicket.

Kishan returned to the middle after Mohammad Shami was dismissed early in the final session. With East Zone already in a dominant position, he had a chance to become only the third batter to score a triple century in the Duleep Trophy. But the landmark remained out of reach. Kishan hit Vijay, who finished with figures of 4/180, straight into the hands of Ravichandran Smaran near the sight screen. By then, however, Kishan had already done more than enough to put East Zone in a commanding position.