Ishan Kishan batted for 135 balls on Day 1. He faced another 175 balls across almost two sessions on the second day in Chennai. Fatigue had finally set in.
East Zone's captain Ishan Kishan celebrates his 250 runs on day 2 of the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final cricket match between South Zone and East Zone (PTI)
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The East Zone captain looked tired, and out came the physio. After a brief chat, Ishan left the field, walking off retired hurt just before tea with an unbeaten 250 to his name.
But Ishan wasn't done.
Deep Dive
What records did Ishan Kishan break with his 270 in the Duleep Trophy final?
Ishan Kishan's 270 established him as the first East Zone batter to score a double century in a Duleep Trophy final and the second-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final, surpassing previous records held by notable players.
Why is Ishan Kishan's 270 considered a significant performance in Duleep Trophy history?
Kishan's innings is seen as significant because it ranks among the highest scores in Duleep Trophy history, showcasing his endurance and skill while leading East Zone, making a substantial impact in the tournament's narrative.
How did Ishan Kishan's innings affect East Zone's position in the Duleep Trophy final?
Kishan's 270 runs helped East Zone set a formidable target of 708 runs, putting them in a dominant position in the final against South Zone, where their performance put immense pressure on the opposing team.
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Sixteen overs into the final session of the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone, after East Zone lost two more wickets, the left-hander walked out to bat again. He was the ninth batter to fall, in the final over of the day, as East Zone were eventually bowled out for a humongous 708.
Ishan had started the day on 111 not out, having reached his century in 122 balls on the opening evening. He ended Day 2 with 270 runs from 334 balls, comprising 30 boundaries and seven sixes.
Looking weary yet again, and taking on the responsibility of safeguarding the final wicket, Ishan launched a tossed-up delivery from spinner Tripurna Vijay over mid-wicket, looking to clear the long-on fence. But fielder Smaran Ravichandran kept his eyes on the ball and completed a wonderful catch in the deep, just in front of the ropes, to deny Ishan a glorious triple century.
Yet, for Ishan, the knock had already entered the Duleep Trophy record books.
Where does Ishan Kishan's 270 rank among the greatest Duleep Trophy performances?
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With the 20 runs he added in the final session on Day 2, Ishan registered the eighth-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy match. He surpassed the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal (265) and Ajay Jadeja (264), but his dismissal ended his bid to climb even higher up the chart.
Highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy match:
320 - Raman Lamba, NZ vs WZ, 1987
300* - GK Khoda, CZ vs SZ, 2001
292 - SS Bhave, WZ vs SZ, 1994
287 - Arun Lal, EZ vs WZ, 1986
278 - S Manjrekar, WZ vs CZ, 1987
275 - LS Rajput, WZ vs CZ, 1987
274 - V Sehwag, NZ vs SZ, 1999
270 - Ishan Kishan, EZ vs SZ, 2026
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Those 20 extra runs also took him past Cheteshwar Pujara (256*, Blue vs Red, 2016) and Jaiswal to register the second-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final.
Highest individual scores in a Duleep Trophy final:
320 - Raman Lamba, NZ vs WZ, 1987
270 - Ishan Kishan, EZ vs SZ, 2026
265 - Yashasvi Jaiswal, WZ vs SZ, 2022
256* - Cheteshwar Pujara, Blue vs Red, 2016
216* - Aunshuman Gaekwad, WZ vs NZ, 1987
210* - Yusuf Pathan, WZ vs SZ, 2010
The knock also remains the second-best performance by an East Zone batter in a Duleep Trophy game, behind Arun Lal's 287.
Ishan's 270 has firmly kept East Zone in the driver's seat in the final, leaving South Zone with only one option — bat and try to go past 708 over the next three days.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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