Duleep Trophy Final: Know who will win if East Zone vs South Zone ends in a draw and why the first-innings lead could decide the champion.
The Duleep Trophy Final has reached an interesting stage, with East Zone putting themselves in a commanding position after posting a huge first-innings total of 708 runs in Chennai. With South Zone now batting, the contest has raised an important question: what happens if the final ends in a draw?
The answer lies in the tournament’s first-innings lead rule. Unlike some major finals where the trophy may be shared if neither side wins outright, the Duleep Trophy has a provision to determine the champion based on the first-innings advantage.
What Happens If the Duleep Trophy Final Is Drawn?
If the Duleep Trophy Final ends without a decisive result, the trophy will not simply be shared between East Zone and South Zone.
Instead, the team that takes the first-innings lead is declared the champion. This gives East Zone a major advantage after their impressive batting performance.
East Zone have already reached 708 runs in their first innings. As a result, South Zone now need to go beyond that score if they want to secure the first-innings lead.
If South Zone fail to overtake East Zone and the match eventually ends in a draw, East Zone will be declared the winner.
How Many Runs Does South Zone Need?
The target for South Zone is straightforward. They must score at least 709 runs in their first innings to move ahead of East Zone.
A score of 708 would mean both teams finish their first innings with the same total, while anything below 708 would leave East Zone ahead.
Therefore, South Zone’s batting effort is crucial. Even if they manage to survive the remaining match and avoid an outright defeat, failing to cross East Zone’s 708-run mark could still result in them losing the title.
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Ishan Kishan Leads East Zone’s Massive Total
East Zone’s strong position has been built around a remarkable batting display. Captain Ishan Kishan produced a sensational 270-run innings, playing a major role in taking his team to the massive 708-run total.
Kishan’s marathon knock included 30 fours and seven sixes, providing East Zone with a huge first-innings cushion. Kumar Kushagra also contributed a century, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhimanyu Easwaran helped establish a strong foundation earlier in the innings.
The combined effort has put East Zone in a position where they could potentially win the Duleep Trophy Final without needing to take all 20 South Zone wickets.
Why 709 Runs Could Decide the Championship
For South Zone, the equation is now very clear. Their primary goal is not only to build a big total but to cross East Zone’s first-innings score.
Reaching 709 or more would give South Zone the lead and could completely change the championship equation. However, if they remain below 709 and the match finishes as a draw, East Zone would have the advantage under the first-innings rule.
That makes every South Zone run extremely valuable as the Duleep Trophy Final moves towards its conclusion.
East Zone Hold the Advantage
With 708 runs already on the board, East Zone have given themselves a significant safety net. South Zone must now produce an equally strong batting performance to prevent East Zone from claiming the title in the event of a drawn match.
The Duleep Trophy Final therefore remains finely poised, but East Zone currently have the crucial first-innings advantage. South Zone’s ability to cross the 708-run mark could ultimately determine who gets to lift the trophy.
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