Ishan Kishan steps up in Duleep Trophy final, hits double hundred to derail South Zone

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan stepped up at the right time in the Duleep Trophy. Playing in the final against Tilak Varma's South Zone, Kishan hit a measured double hundred to put his team firmly in control on Monday, September 7.

Picking things up from 111* on the morning of Day 2, the left-hander played the ball on its merit and brought up his double hundred in 270 balls at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Duleep Trophy Final: Day 2 Live Updates

Kishan's marathon knock came on a flat Chepauk surface, where the first-innings lead could prove decisive in determining the winner. The East Zone captain first put together a big partnership with young Kumar Kushagra before joining hands with Anukul Roy, taking his team past 500 runs in the second session of Day 2.

EAST ZONE GO PAST 500 RUNS

Kishan's knock was one of maturity and composure. The left-hander has enjoyed a sensational revival of form in domestic cricket over the last couple of years, and that was on show once again on Monday as he repeatedly found gaps and refused to give South Zone an opening.

Kishan hit 25 fours and two sixes en route to his double century, with his milestone coming in the 122nd over of the match as East Zone reached 550/5.

The Chepauk track has been a batter's paradise so far, with the majority of the batters getting starts. Apart from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (44) and Sudip Gharami (6), every East Zone batter has scored at least fifty, playing their part in a mammoth total.

South Zone captain Tilak Varma has struggled to find a way to stem the flow of runs. His defensive fields have allowed the East Zone batters to pick up runs around the ground, with South Zone seemingly unwilling to take risks after the top order put them under pressure on the opening day.

Kishan, in particular, made the most of the freedom offered to him. The left-hander repeatedly used the pull shot to find the boundary, with 11 of his 25 fours coming through that stroke.

He eventually brought up his double hundred with a square cut, joining an elite list of batters to have reached the milestone in the Duleep Trophy.

SHAMI, MUKESH WAITING

East Zone are now expected to push towards a total in the range of 600-650 before declaring their innings and putting South Zone under pressure.

The Ishan Kishan-led side also have a formidable bowling attack waiting for its turn, with Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar expected to lead the charge when South Zone finally begin their first innings.