Ishan Kishan's East Zone end 14-year wait to secure Duleep Trophy title

East Zone have ended a 14-year drought by clinching the prestigious Duleep Trophy for the third time in their history, securing the championship on the basis of a decisive first-innings lead over South Zone.

Captained by Ishan Kishan, East Zone delivered consistent performances throughout the tournament. The triumph marked a turnaround for the zonal side, breaking a long title drought that stretched back over a decade.

Kuldeep Yadav's 10-Wicket Haul and Tilak Varma's Heartbreak

The final stages of the competition were filled with standout individual performances. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav sent a loud reminder to national selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir by claiming a stunning 10-wicket match haul.

Meanwhile, South Zone batter Tilak Varma suffered heartbreak when his remarkable tournament run was halted on 99, falling agonizingly short of a century. Despite missing the triple-figure mark, Varma reaffirmed that his primary ambition remains breaking into India's Test squad.