Ishan Kishan lit up the Duleep Trophy 2026 final with a commanding knock in front of a jam-packed crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In the East Zone versus South Zone final, Kishan scored a mammoth 270-run knock.
It was one of the most memorable innings of his domestic career and saw him etch several records to his name. The knock once again led fans talk about his place in Indian Test team with comparison with Rishabh Pant.
Ishan Kishan's Brilliant 270 Run Knock in Duleep Trophy Final
Coming out to bat at number five, Kishan showed no signs of stopping and played a masterful knock of 270 runs off 334 deliveries, including 30 fours and 7 sixes. He retired hurt later in the innings but returned to the crease and added a few more runs before eventually getting dismissed.
He also stitched together some memorable partnerships with his teammates, including a 230 run partnership with Kumar Kushagra, who also scored a century. As a result, East Zone finished with a massive total of 708 runs in their first innings.
With this record-breaking knock, Ishan Kishan became the first East Zone batter to score a double century in a Duleep Trophy final. His innings also took him past the 4,000 run mark in first-class cricket.
Kishan's 270 is also the second-highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final, only behind Raman Lamba's record 320 run knock.
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Ishan Kishan vs. Rishabh Pant: First Class Career Statistics
|
Statistic
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Ishan Kishan
|
Rishabh Pant
|
|
Matches
|
65
|
134
|
|
Runs
|
4,163
|
5,859
|
|
Highest Score
|
273
|
308
|
|
Batting Average
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39.64
|
46.50
|
|
Centuries (100s)
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10
|
13
|
|
Half-Centuries (50s)
|
17
|
32
|
Ishan Kishan undoubtedly played one of the finest innings of his domestic career but the comparison with Rishabh Pant still seems a little unfair given his limited international experience. International cricket presents a different set of challenges, especially in overseas conditions, where Pant has already proved his mettle with some iconic knocks around the world.
Kishan has featured in only 2 Test matches so far and remains a bright prospect for India's upcoming Test setup. However, Rishabh Pant continues to be the primary choice for the wicketkeeper batter role, with outstanding numbers and experience to his name.