Ishan Kishan becomes first East batter to hit double ton in Duleep Trophy final

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan smashed a double century against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final, becoming only the third East player to achieve the feat. He joined Arun Lal and Saba Karim in the tournament’s elite double-century club

Chennai: East Zone captain Ishan Kishan achieved a significant milestone as he smashed a jaw-dropping double century in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Kishan became just the third East Zone player to score a double hundred in the Duleep Trophy, joining the likes of Arun Lal and Saba Karim in the elite list. He has also become the first East batter to hit a double ton in the final of the red-ball tournament.

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Before Ishan, Arun Lal had scored two double centuries for East in the Duleep Trophy, making 287 and 214. Saba Karim also had a double century to his name for East, scoring an unbeaten 200 in 1995.

Ishan scored 26 fours and two sixes in his epic knock and reached the milestone in just 270 balls. The southpaw reached the landmark with a four off Devdutt Padikkal on Day 2 of the match. He drilled Padikkal through the covers for a four to bring up his double century.

He continued his onslaught and smashed 250 runs to pile on more runs for his side. However, the skipper struggled with fatigue and retired hurt after reaching 250, walking off the field.

Ishan resumed his innings on Day 2 from his overnight unbeaten score of 111. He put the South bowlers to the sword and stormed his way to the milestone. He also auditioned for the Test wicketkeeper’s role with his knock.

The East Zone skipper celebrated his milestone with his arms aloft as East piled on the runs against South. By the time Ishan retired hurt, East had already scored 611/5. He also partnered Kumar Kushagra in a 230-run stand for the fifth wicket.

The South Zone bowlers continued to toil in Chennai as they were forced to stay on the field for nearly one and a half days during Kishan’s heroics.