Ishan Kishan hits unbeaten 111 as East Zone dominate Day 1 of Duleep Trophy final

East Zone seized complete control on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final, finishing at an imposing 385/4 thanks to an unbeaten century from captain Ishan Kishan and an authoritative knock from opener Shikhar Mohan.

Kishan and Mohan Anchor the Innings

Kishan led from the front, batting with composure and flair to finish Day 1 unbeaten on 111. His innings provided stability after East Zone lost quick wickets in the middle session. Partnering him during a crucial phase, Shikhar Mohan contributed a valuable 85 to lift East Zone out of potential trouble.

Speaking on his performance, Mohan credited his captain's presence at the crease: "Bhaiya gave me a lot of advice out there. His guidance really helped me build the innings and manage the match tempo."

Sooryavanshi Sparks Fireworks Against Siraj

Earlier in the day, young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up the Chepauk stadium with a fearless batting display. Taking on Indian frontline fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, the teenager struck a flurry of boundaries, including consecutive hits of 4, 6, and 4 in an over, setting an aggressive tone early on.

Sooryavanshi, who has been in the spotlight since breaking into junior and franchise ranks, also found himself in a heated mid-pitch exchange with South Zone's Tilak Varma as competitive tensions flared in the final.

Mohammed Shami's Milestone Appearance

The final also marks the 100th first-class match of veteran speedster Mohammed Shami. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly sent a special congratulatory tribute to Shami for the landmark accomplishment, while Kishan echoed confidence in the pacer's drive, stating that Shami remains as hungry as ever for an India recall and proving that age is just a number.