Duleep trophy cricket is producing plenty of talking points in the 2026-27 final, but one of the most interesting moments has come from a teenager who is only 15 years old. East Zone youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is quickly becoming known for his sharp cricketing instincts, and his latest contribution came in the form of a crucial DRS call.
Sooryavanshi once again showed that age is no barrier when it comes to understanding the game. During the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone, the youngster played an important role in convincing East Zone captain Ishan Kishan to review the dismissal of Ricky Bhui.
The decision turned out to be spot on.
With the on-field umpire refusing to give Bhui out, Sooryavanshi’s confidence in the appeal and his reading of the situation encouraged Kishan to take the review. The technology eventually backed the East Zone camp, adding another impressive moment to the teenager’s growing reputation.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shows Excellent DRS Instincts
South Zone had already been put under enormous pressure after East Zone posted a mammoth first-innings total of 708 runs. When South began their reply, Ricky Bhui appeared to edge a delivery from Mukesh Kumar behind the stumps during the sixth over.
The East Zone players appealed, but the on-field umpire remained unmoved.
That was when the importance of Sooryavanshi’s observation became clear. The youngster was convinced there had been an edge and pushed captain Ishan Kishan to reconsider the decision.
Kishan eventually opted for the DRS review, and the decision went in East Zone’s favour.
For a player so young, having the confidence to influence a captain during an important final highlights the kind of cricketing awareness Sooryavanshi is developing. DRS decisions can change the momentum of a match, especially when a team is trying to defend a huge total, and this was another example of the value of trusting the players around you.
Ishan Kishan Leads East Zone With a Stunning 270
While Sooryavanshi attracted attention for his DRS awareness, the biggest story of the Duleep trophy cricket final was undoubtedly Ishan Kishan’s extraordinary batting performance.
The East Zone captain produced a monumental 270, taking complete control of the contest against South Zone. His innings came at a crucial stage after East Zone had already established a strong position in the match.
Kishan’s knock was not just about the runs. It was also about the way he controlled the innings, managed the pressure and kept South Zone’s bowlers searching for answers.
The left-hander had already made an unbeaten 111 on the opening day and helped East Zone finish the first day at 385/4. He also brought up his 10th first-class century and crossed the significant milestone of 4,000 first-class runs.
At the other end, Kumar Kushagra provided excellent support with an aggressive innings that kept the pressure firmly on South Zone.
Also read: Duleep Trophy Semifinals: North Zone Bowled Out for 195 as South Zone Dominate Opening Day
East Zone Build a Massive First-Innings Total
After resuming on 385/4, East Zone wasted little time in continuing their domination.
South Zone desperately needed wickets and decided to take the new ball after delaying the move for just one over. However, the change did little to stop East Zone’s progress.
Mohammed Siraj and MD Nidheesh were unable to make the breakthrough South desperately needed.
Kishan immediately settled into his rhythm and struck successive boundaries against Siraj. He then produced similar treatment against Nidheesh, making it clear that East Zone were not interested in slowing down.
Kumar Kushagra soon joined the attack.
The two batters continued to score freely, putting South Zone’s bowling unit under increasing pressure. South introduced spinners Tripurana Vijay and Shreyas Gopal either side of the drinks break, hoping that a change in bowling would create an opportunity.
Instead, East Zone continued to dominate.
Kumar Kushagra Completes Another First-Class Century
Kushagra moved steadily towards his century and began finding the boundary regularly.
He entered the nineties with a couple of boundaries off Shreyas Gopal before completing his sixth first-class hundred.
His innings was particularly important because it allowed Kishan to continue batting without having to take unnecessary risks. The partnership kept the scoreboard moving and further frustrated South Zone.
However, South Zone finally found a breakthrough close to the lunch interval.
Kushagra, despite reaching his century, was dismissed after finding the fielder at fine leg.
It was the breakthrough South had been waiting for, but it did little to change the overall direction of the game.
Ishan Kishan Continues to Attack
With Kushagra back in the dressing room, Kishan continued to bat with remarkable control.
Rather than allowing the wicket to affect his rhythm, the East Zone captain continued manipulating the field and finding scoring opportunities.
As the shoulders of the South Zone players began to drop, Kishan took full advantage.
The left-hander smashed three boundaries in a single over from Shreyas Gopal, once again putting the bowling side under pressure.
South Zone tried another tactic by introducing part-time options such as Devdutt Padikkal and Shaikh Rasheed.
But nothing seemed capable of stopping Kishan.
The East Zone captain eventually reached his remarkable double century from 270 balls, underlining just how dominant his performance had become.
Kishan Moves From 200 to 250 With Ease
Once Kishan crossed the 200-run mark, the innings became even more damaging for South Zone.
The boundaries began arriving with greater frequency as Kishan moved rapidly towards 250. At this stage, South Zone were increasingly looking towards the possibility of a declaration, knowing that every additional run was making their task more difficult.
But Kishan had no immediate intention of stopping.
East Zone crossed the 600-run mark, yet the captain continued to bat.
His approach showed the confidence East Zone had built during the innings. Rather than giving South Zone an opportunity to settle into the contest, East continued piling on the runs.
However, the enormous workload eventually began to take its toll on Kishan.
Fatigue caught up with the skipper and he had to retire after producing one of the standout innings of the final.
East Zone Reach 708 in the Duleep Trophy Final
Even after Kishan’s departure, East Zone’s run-making did not stop.
The batting side continued to add runs until the total reached an enormous 708 before they were eventually bowled out.
The score was particularly significant at Chepauk, with a total of more than 700 being registered at the venue only for the third time in first-class cricket.
The huge total put South Zone under immediate pressure and meant that their batters had a mountain to climb in their first innings.
East Zone’s performance was built around a combination of aggressive batting, patience and excellent partnerships. Kishan’s 270 was the centrepiece, while Kushagra’s 101 played a major supporting role.
Duleep Trophy Cricket Final Turns Into a Test of Character
The ongoing Duleep trophy cricket final has offered a fascinating combination of individual brilliance and smart cricketing decisions.
Ishan Kishan’s 270 has dominated the headlines because of its sheer scale, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s DRS intervention also deserves attention.
At just 15, Sooryavanshi is showing the kind of confidence and awareness that can make a player valuable beyond his batting or bowling ability. His ability to read situations, communicate with senior players and back his judgement could become an important part of his development.
For East Zone, these moments have come together perfectly.
A huge first-innings score has put the team in a commanding position, while smart decisions on the field have added further pressure on South Zone.
What Makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s DRS Call Special?
DRS reviews are often remembered for the final decision rather than the player who initially spots the possibility of an error.
In this case, Sooryavanshi’s role stood out because he trusted what he saw and communicated it strongly enough for the captain to review the decision.
At the highest level, such confidence can be extremely valuable.
A successful review can change a match by removing a dangerous batter, and in a final, every wicket can carry even greater importance.
Sooryavanshi’s involvement therefore adds another interesting chapter to his rapidly developing cricket story.
East Zone In Complete Control
With East Zone scoring 708 and South Zone facing a difficult reply, the balance of the Duleep Trophy final has firmly shifted in favour of Kishan’s side.
Ishan Kishan’s magnificent 270 will remain the defining performance of the innings, while Kumar Kushagra’s century provided crucial support.
But the tournament has also offered a glimpse of another emerging talent.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may still be only 15, but his ability to understand the game and influence important decisions is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
If he continues developing these instincts alongside his cricketing skills, the youngster could become one of the players to watch closely in Indian domestic cricket in the years ahead.
For now, though, East Zone will be delighted with their position in the final. A total of 708 has given them a massive advantage, and the pressure is firmly on South Zone to respond.