Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a key role as East Zone defeat Central Zone to reach their first Duleep Trophy final since 2012-13.
Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played an important role as East Zone defeated defending champions Central Zone by four wickets to reach the Duleep Trophy 2026 final. The result ended East Zone’s 13-year wait for a place in the tournament final.
Sooryavanshi produced an impressive performance across the semifinal, scoring 92 in the first innings before adding another 40 during the successful run chase. His attacking batting provided East Zone with valuable momentum during a challenging match.
His first-innings 92 was particularly notable because he became the youngest batter in Duleep Trophy history to score a half-century. The 15-year-old reached his fifty from just 42 balls and eventually finished on 92 from 81 deliveries.
East Zone and Central Zone finished their first innings level on 266, leaving the semifinal finely balanced. Central Zone, the defending champions, were then bowled out for 158 in their second innings, leaving East Zone with a target of 159.
Sooryavanshi once again provided an attacking start during the chase, scoring 40 from 43 balls. Although he was eventually dismissed, his contribution helped East Zone establish momentum before captain Ishan Kishan completed the chase with an unbeaten 39.
The bowlers also played a crucial role in East Zone’s victory. Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami combined to take seven wickets in Central Zone’s second innings, putting East Zone in a strong position to chase the relatively modest target. Mukesh was later named Player of the Match.
The victory takes East Zone into their first Duleep Trophy final since the 2012-13 season. They will face the winner of the second semifinal, with the final scheduled to begin in Chennai on September 6.
For Sooryavanshi, the tournament continues to underline his rapidly developing reputation. His performances in the Duleep Trophy have added another impressive chapter to a young career that is already attracting significant attention across Indian cricket.
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