East Zone vs South Zone Live Updates, Duleep Trophy 2026 Final: Kumar Kushagra and Md Kounain Quraishi will resume the East Zone innings at 212/5 against South Zone on the final day of the Duleep Trophy summit clash in Chennai. On Day 4, Ishan Kishan and South Zone skipper Tilak Varma underlined their red-ball credentials with scores of 99 and 80 respectively, but the former’s knock had greater contextual value as it placed East Zone firmly on course for victory. Tilak’s 211-ball innings lifted South Zone to 336 all out in their first innings, but they still trailed East Zone’s first-innings total of 708 by 372 runs. In their second innings, East Zone moved to 212/5 at stumps, taking their overall lead to 584 runs. Kushagra (34*) and Quraishi (26*) were unbeaten at the close of play on Day 4 and had added 52 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership. ( Live Scorecard )
After completely shutting South Zone out of the contest across the last four days, the East side will look to turn their absolute dominance into a memorable victory today. An intense battle to conclude the game – The fifth-day track will offer unpredictable bounce and sharp turn from the rough, making every over an absolute trial by fire for the batters. East Zone have the luxury of setting attacking catchers all around the bat from ball one, so the psychological pressure will be relentless. Can South Zone produce a heroic rearguard fight, or will East Zone blow them away to cap off a clinical performance. The morning session gets underway in just a moment. One hand on the trophy – After amassing a huge lead, Ishan Kishan opted against the follow on and decide to bat again. Then came the telling stand between Ishan Kishan and Shikhar Mohan. South Zone have it all to do and not enough time to do it in. Be sure to tune in to our build-up as well. Cheers! For South Zone, it will be about getting some teeth back in the contest as they look to bowl out East Zone and make them work in the field on the final day.
Hello and welcome to Day 5 – A very warm welcome to cricket fans as we enter the decisive fifth and final day of this grueling red-ball contest. East Zone are sitting comfortably in the driver seat with a mammoth lead of 584 runs, holding every single ace in their hand. Mohammed Siraj showed stark contrast to the first innings and bowled a fine spell as East Zone were reduced to 13/2. Kishan got out on 80, and Mohan too struck a half century. A flurry of late wickets troubled East Zone for a bit but then Kumar Kushagra and Md Kounain Qureshi showed resilience and took their side to 212/5 at the end of Day 4. Day 5, which is the final day of this Duleep Trophy Final will begin on Thursday, September 10, at 4 am GMT (9.30 am IST). 11.33 am GMT (5.03 pm IST) – STUMPS, DAY 4 – East Zone end Day 4 with a commanding second innings lead of 584 runs, and with one day left in this final, they have simply out batted their opponents.
