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The Duleep Trophy 2026 final between East Zone and South Zone has been ongoing. After the end of Day 3’s play, it is Ishan Kishan’s side that is holding a strong position in the match. However, the side has been warned by the umpires after star India National Cricket Team pacer Mohammed Shami asked them to change the ball.
Ishan Kishan, who led the side to the final after 13 years, has been leading from the front as he scored a double century in the first innings for the side. Kishan’s side is very close to winning the game as South Zone still trails by 466 runs in the first innings with four wickets in hand. A follow-on is inevitable for the side.
Why was Mohammed Shami and East Zone warned by umpires?
During the Duleep Trophy match, something unusual happened in the 60th over; the umpires asked Shami for the ball as they were inspecting it to change it after the veteran India pacer urged them to take a look at the condition of the ball. However, they did not change the ball and warned Mohammed Shami and the side against using excessive sweat to shine the ball.
MCC Law 41.3 pertains to 'The match ball: changing its condition' and prohibits players from taking any action that alters the condition of the match ball unless specifically permitted by the law.
While the use of sweat is allowed, there is no law specifying excessive use of sweat. Law 41.3.1 states: "The umpires shall make frequent and irregular inspections of the ball. In addition, they shall immediately inspect the ball if they suspect anyone of attempting to change the condition of the ball, except as permitted in [Law 41.3.2]."
Ishan Kishan stars for East Zone in the final
Now coming to the match, East Zone won the toss and opted to bat first. They made one change, with Shikhar Mohan getting a chance in place of Virat Singh. South Zone, who had some changes to make, cited some additions to the squad as they made four changes with Mohammed Siraj came in for Vidwath Kaverappa, Devdutt Padikkal for Kodimela Himateja, Tripurana Vijay for Tanay Thyagarajan, and CV Milind for Kavuri Saiteja.
After electing to bat first, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were off to a flying start as the Southpaw scored 44 off 37 balls, and they stitched a partnership of 100 runs inside 15 overs, with Easwaran scoring 72 runs. Later on, some quick wickets fell, but Shikhar Mohan and Kishan stitched 94 runs partnership, as the former was out for 85 runs.
Then skipper Kishan and Kumar Kushagra built a 230-run partnership, with the latter playing a knock of 101 runs. Ishan Kishan showed all his class and form as he scored a double hundred in the final and was dismissed for 270 runs, with East Zone putting a mammoth score of 708 in the first innings.
Mohammed Shami bowls in full rhythm
South Zone in their first innings did not have the best of starts and kept on losing wickets, until a solid 66-run partnership between skipper Tilak Varma and Shreyas Gopal helped them cross the 200-run mark, with Tilak unbeaten at the crease on the score of 56 runs as South Zone trail by 466 runs with their now score being 242/6.
For East Zone, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar took two wickets. Mohammed Shami has been bowling excellently in this final, displaying all his experience of playing first-class cricket and international cricket in this season. Mohammed Shami would like to pick more wickets on Day 4.
