Duleep Trophy Final Live Score, East Zone vs South Zone Live Updates: Focus On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

All set for Day 3 to get underway in Chennai. It's very warm and humid out there with the sun shining brightly. The umpires and players punctually make their way to the middle, and the players of East Zone take their respective fielding positions. And right after them, the openers of South Zone - Ricky Bhui and Narayan Jagadeesan - make their way to the crease. The new ball has been given to Mohammad Shami and there are three slips and a gully in place, with Bhui taking the strike. Here we go...

PITCH REPORT - WV Raman and Chetan Sharma are in the middle, inspecting Day 3 conditions at Chepauk. Chetan says there couldn't be a better batting wicket than this. Also mentions that there are no signs of deterioration on the surface, even on the third day. When asked by Raman whether any uneven bounce might creep in as the match progresses, Chetan confirms that it will, hinting at a shift in conditions as the pitch wears further. His advice for South Zone is simple, to stay patient and look to bat long. Raman sums it up neatly in response, calling it a proper buffet out there for the batters.

In conversation with Kumar Kushagra - Kushagra reflects on the significance of his innings, calling it his maiden Duleep Trophy century and noting the timing could not have been better, arriving as East Zone reach the final after a long wait. Helping the side to 700, he says, is a genuinely good feeling, and he credits the good batting surface along with the team's overall execution. He also opens up on the personal stakes. Says having enjoyed a strong season last year, he was keen to carry that momentum forward, and he hopes to keep the performances coming through the games ahead. On his crucial stand with Ishan Kishan, he explains how South Zone had come armed with clear plans, particularly around the short ball, which the pair had to negotiate carefully. Adds that the partnership worked well because Kishan took the aggressive route against the spinners from one end while he did the same from the other, hitting them for sixes, a combination he felt served the team nicely. He admits there is a certain joy in batting alongside a current India player, watching him handle the bowling with such ease, and that it only added to his own motivation to contribute meaningfully from the other end. When he is asked specifically about targeting the off spinner, he says he did not initially feel confident going after the leg spinner, but the off spinner felt like an easier matchup, one he could take on even with a fielder posted back on the boundary. On the 700-run total and how the team plans to approach the rest of the match, he calls it a strong score and hopes the bowlers can back it up. Points to the confidence gained from their strong win in the previous match as something the side can carry forward into this one.

South Zone seek a response - South Zone, meanwhile, need a strong response after spending the first two days in the field. Their bowling attack has had to endure a long, demanding innings, but they will now have an opportunity to reset and make their mark with the bat. Having reached the final after a convincing semi-final win over North Zone, South Zone know they have the quality and experience to fight their way back, with the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Tilak Varma among those expected to play important roles.

East Zone hold the edge - East Zone have enjoyed a superb campaign and have carried that momentum into the final, putting together a batting effort that has given them a huge advantage. Skipper Ishan Kishan has been at the heart of it with a remarkable 270, while Kumar Kushagra's 101 and useful contributions elsewhere have helped them build an imposing total. Their challenge now is to translate that batting dominance into pressure with the ball and keep South Zone on the back foot.

Moving Day beckons - Welcome to Day 3 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with East Zone firmly in control after the opening two days. They have posted a mammoth 708 in their first innings, leaving South Zone with a mountain to climb when they begin their reply. With three days still remaining, there is plenty of cricket left, but the onus is now firmly on South Zone to find a way back into the contest.

... DAY 3, SESSION 1 ...

The evening defiance - South Zone hoped to run through the lower order in the final session, but Md Kounain Quraishi and Mohammad Shami had other plans. The two tailenders showed remarkable defiance and survived the entire first hour to push the scoreboard. When the partnership was broken, Kishan came back out and notched up 270 before getting out. Tripurana Vijay ended up with a four-fer as South Zone managed to bole out East Zone on the final ball of the day. Day 3 is scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 8 at 4 am GMT (9.30 am IST), but you can join us sooner for the build-up as well. Cheers!

Kishan’s historic knock - The post-lunch session brought even more misery for South Zone as Kishan and Anukul Roy milked the bowling with ease. The East Zone captain reached a sensational double hundred, becoming only the second captain to score a double century in a Duleep Trophy final, and showed no signs of slowing down as he raced to 250 off 300 balls. The harsh Chennai heat eventually forced the exhausted skipper to retire hurt, bringing some temporary respite for the bowling side. Anukul chipped in with a valuable 45 before being trapped leg-before on the final ball of the afternoon, leaving East Zone in a commanding position at 626/6 at the tea break.

The morning domination - Day 2 began with East Zone resuming on 385/4, and the opening session quickly turned into a masterclass from Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra. South Zone took the second new ball early on, but their bowlers could find neither rhythm nor answers on a flat track. Kushagra played with absolute freedom to bring up a cracking hundred off just 128 deliveries, putting together a mammoth 230-run stand before finally falling for 101. Kishan remained totally unfazed at the other end, cruising past his 150 with authority. By the time the umpires called lunch, East Zone were cruising comfortably at 491/5, with Kishan unbeaten on 171 and South Zone searching for answers.