Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Gavaskar Criticises East Zone After Drawn Duleep Trophy Final
East Zone won the Duleep Trophy because it scored many more runs than South Zone in the first innings.
East Zone made 708 runs, while South Zone made 336.
This gave East Zone a lead of 372 runs.
East Zone batted again and reached 388 runs for seven wickets.
The captains then agreed to stop the match, which ended in a draw.
Sunil Gavaskar said East Zone should have tried to win the match completely.
He also thought the captains could have stopped the game earlier if they did not plan to chase a win.
Gavaskar said teams need to bowl in two innings to learn how to take all 20 wickets.
He connected this concern to India’s failure to dismiss Sri Lanka’s last four batters in a recent drawn Test.
East Zone won the 2026 Duleep Trophy after the final against South Zone ended in a draw.
East Zone scored 708 in its first innings and dismissed South Zone for 336, gaining a 372-run lead.
East Zone reached 388/7 in its second innings, creating an overall lead of 760 runs.
Captains Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma agreed to end the fifth-day match early.
Sunil Gavaskar said East Zone should have pursued an outright win instead of prolonging its second innings.
- Who
- East Zone, South Zone, captains Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma, and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.
- What
- East Zone won the Duleep Trophy through its first-innings lead, but Gavaskar criticised its decision not to seek an outright victory.
- When
- The final was played in 2026 and ended on the fifth day.
- Where
- MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
- Why
- East Zone secured the trophy with a 372-run first-innings lead; Gavaskar wanted the team to use its advantage to try to dismiss South Zone again.
Pursue an outright victory
Secure the trophy through the first-innings lead
Match strategy
Pursue an outright victory
Sunil Gavaskar argued that East Zone should have tried to dismiss South Zone for a second time and seek a complete win.
Secure the trophy through the first-innings lead
East Zone had already secured a substantial 372-run lead, which was enough to win the trophy when the match was drawn.
Timing of the conclusion
Pursue an outright victory
Gavaskar said the match could have ended at lunch if the teams were not going to use the remaining sessions to pursue a result.
Secure the trophy through the first-innings lead
Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma agreed to end play on the fifth day while East Zone held an overall lead of 760 runs.
Domestic cricket’s purpose
Pursue an outright victory
Gavaskar said teams must bowl in two innings to develop the ability to take 20 wickets, especially on good pitches.
Secure the trophy through the first-innings lead
The current approach can allow teams to settle for first-innings leads, while totals of 700 or more reduce the time available for an outright result.
- Competition
- 2026 Duleep Trophy final
- Result
- The match ended in a draw, with East Zone winning the trophy
- Venue
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- East Zone first innings
- 708 runs
- South Zone first innings
- 336 runs
- First-innings lead
- 372 runs
- Second-innings position
- East Zone reached 388/7, holding an overall lead of 760 runs
- Gavaskar’s criticism
- He said East Zone prolonged its second innings instead of pursuing an outright win
