Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma have acknowledged that the short turnaround between the Duleep Trophy final and India’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan will be “slightly challenging,” but both players remain confident about adapting quickly to the demands of white-ball cricket. The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone begins on Sunday at Chennai’s Chepauk, with Kishan leading East Zone and Tilak Varma captaining South Zone. Following the five-day domestic fixture, the players will travel to Delhi for the Afghanistan T20I series. East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will also face a tight schedule, with only three days between the Duleep Trophy final and the T20I series. Kishan said switching between formats can be demanding, particularly when players have to move from the mindset required for a long-format game to the aggressive approach needed in T20 cricket. “It is just about knowing what format you are playing,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final. “Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and then go back to your domestic team and play a completely different role.” However, the wicketkeeper-batter stressed that adapting to changing formats is part of a professional cricketer’s responsibility. “As professionals, it is our job to adapt. We cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is our routine for the next few days,” he said. Kishan also pointed out that the players will have two days of practice before the opening Afghanistan T20I, which he believes should be sufficient to make the transition. “I will be playing T20 after this, so my job will be different in T20Is. But we are getting two days of practice before the first Afghanistan game, so it will be more than enough,” he added. Tilak Varma echoed Kishan’s assessment, saying the demanding schedule would test the players but that their experience of playing across formats and conditions should help them adjust. “We have played enough domestic games and in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions,” Tilak said. “But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the T20I team.” The all-round batter added that the break between the Duleep final and the first T20I would give the players an opportunity to recover and prepare mentally and physically. “We are going to Delhi, there will be two days of break, so we can practise there and we have enough time as well. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our bodies with good fluids and everything,” he said. Tilak, who has featured across formats in recent months, believes that experience will be useful in handling the transition. “We have played back-to-back games before in domestic cricket as well as international cricket, so we are quite used to it,” he said. Kishan praises Shami's hunger ahead of 100th first-class game Meanwhile, Kishan has praised Mohammed Shami’s intensity and determination as the veteran fast bowler prepares to play his 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final. Shami, who last represented India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, has continued to feature in domestic cricket despite currently not being considered fit enough for Test cricket. Kishan believes Shami’s age is irrelevant as long as the fast bowler continues to maintain his hunger and work ethic. “I feel age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn’t matter. He has been doing so well,” Kishan said. The East Zone captain also highlighted the confidence Shami brings to the team, particularly with his ability to produce important wickets. “Having him in our team gives us a bit more confidence. When you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets, it makes a difference. Especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity and energy have been very different,” he said. Kishan pointed to Shami’s motivation despite being away from regular international cricket. The fast bowler was a key performer during India’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, but has since faced periods away from the national side. “It has been three years since that 2023 World Cup when he was in excellent form. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for domestic games,” Kishan said. “But I see that hunger in him. He wants to make that comeback and wants to be part of the Indian squad again.” Kishan also revealed that Shami has been actively involved in helping him with captaincy during the Duleep Trophy campaign. “You can see it in him. When he is trying to help me while I’m leading the side, he comes to me and gives me options about what we can do right now,” Kishan said. For Kishan, Shami’s attitude is a reflection of his determination to return to the highest level, with his 100th first-class appearance offering another opportunity to demonstrate his enduring quality.

Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj have been added to the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone, which begins on Sunday, September 6, in Chennai. The duo’s inclusion is part of the Indian team management’s plan to keep Test players match-ready ahead of upcoming international assignments. It is yet to be confirmed which two players they will replace in the South Zone squad. South Zone captain Tilak Varma is also expected to feature in the final despite being part of India’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. East Zone players Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan are likewise expected to play unless the Indian team management makes a late request for them to be rested. The three players are part of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins shortly after the scheduled conclusion of the Duleep Trophy final on September 10. Tilak Keen to Play Final Tilak had expressed his desire to play in the Duleep Trophy final after leading South Zone to victory over North Zone in the semi-final. The left-hander produced an outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten 116 in the first innings and an unbeaten 51 in the second to guide his side into the final. “I would love to play the final,” Tilak said after the semi-final. He pointed out that there would be sufficient time between the domestic final and the Afghanistan assignment to join the India squad and train. Padikkal Returns After Strong Sri Lanka Tour Padikkal enters the final on the back of an impressive Test series in Sri Lanka, where he was named Player of the Series after scoring 328 runs in three innings, including two centuries. The Karnataka batter featured at No. 3 and played consecutive Tests for the first time since making his debut in 2024. Padikkal got the opportunity at No. 3 after B Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series with a toe injury. Sudharsan will not feature in the Duleep Trophy final but is understood to be nearing full fitness. He is expected to be considered for India A’s upcoming series against Australia, beginning September 22 in Puducherry. Siraj Boosts South Zone Pace Attack Siraj’s addition strengthens South Zone’s bowling attack, particularly after Vidwath Kaverappa picked up a niggle. Kaverappa was South Zone’s standout bowler in the semi-final, and his fitness status could influence the final combination. Siraj, like Padikkal, featured in both Tests during India’s tour of Sri Lanka and finished the series with four wickets. South Zone have also brought in Siraj’s Hyderabad teammate CV Milind as cover. The Duleep Trophy final between South Zone and East Zone will begin on September 6 in Chennai, with several players looking to make an impression ahead of India’s upcoming international commitments.

East Zone secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over defending champions Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, thanks to a superb bowling performance from Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami. The third day of the contest produced a dramatic 13 wickets as East Zone successfully chased down a modest target after both teams had finished their first innings on 266. Central Zone, resuming their second innings at 45 for 3, were bowled out for 158. Mukesh Kumar was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4 for 44 after taking three wickets in the first innings. Aman Mokhade offered some resistance with a patient 41, while Harsh Dubey contributed 24 lower down the order. However, the rest of Central's batting line-up struggled against East's disciplined bowling attack. Mukesh and Shami repeatedly troubled the batters with the new ball, extracting movement in both directions under helpful conditions. East captain Ishan Kishan adopted an aggressive approach with attacking field placements in an effort to wrap up the innings quickly. All-rounder Saransh Jain, who had recently made his Test debut in Sri Lanka, endured a difficult match, scoring only 13 and 1 in Central's two innings. Sooryavanshi and Easwaran Set Up East's Chase Chasing 159 for victory, East Zone made another strong start. Openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhimanyu Easwaran added 61 runs before the partnership was broken. Sooryavanshi, who had attacked aggressively during his 92 in the first innings, adopted a more cautious approach this time. The 15-year-old took 21 balls to find his first boundary, eventually launching Aryan Pandey over long-off for six. He then attempted to accelerate against Yash Thakur, hitting him for four, six and two further boundaries. However, his attacking intent eventually brought his downfall. Trying to flick Thakur over deep midwicket, Sooryavanshi skied the ball and was brilliantly caught by Central captain Rajat Patidar. Patidar covered nearly 25 metres from mid-on before completing a spectacular tumbling catch. Sooryavanshi had scored 40 of East's 61 runs at the time of his dismissal. Easwaran departed soon after, but East remained firmly in control of the chase. Late Drama Before East Seal Victory Central briefly threatened a comeback when left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Kumar Kushagra and Anukul Roy. The pressure, however, did not last long. With only nine runs required, Sudip Gharami attempted to finish the game with a big shot but top-edged his slog, with Patidar again completing the catch. The wicket gave Saransh Jain his first dismissal of the innings. Ishan Kishan remained composed at the other end. He struck a boundary with just five runs required before Mohammed Shami finished the contest by cutting a short delivery to the point boundary. Kishan remained unbeaten on 39 as East Zone reached 162 for 6 to complete a four-wicket victory. Mukesh Kumar was named Player of the Match after finishing with an impressive match haul of 7 for 100. East Zone's victory ended Central Zone's title defence and secured their place in the Duleep Trophy final.

Punjab and India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been added to the North Zone squad for their Duleep Trophy semi-final against South Zone, beginning Sunday at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Brar has joined the North Zone camp immediately after returning from India’s Test series against Sri Lanka, which ended with a 1-0 series victory for the visitors on Thursday. The 23-year-old pacer is expected to feature directly in the playing XI as the national selectors look to provide him with valuable red-ball cricket ahead of India’s next Test assignment — a two-match series against New Zealand in November. Although Brar is yet to make his Test debut, he has been included in India’s last two Test squads and has been part of the BCCI’s targeted pool of players for more than a year. His recent performances have strengthened his case. During India A’s shadow tour of Sri Lanka in July, Brar produced an impressive match haul of 10 wickets for 145 runs in the second unofficial Test. Overall, Brar has claimed 62 wickets in 19 first-class matches at an average of 25.24, establishing himself as one of the promising fast-bowling options in India’s domestic setup. Brar also made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in June and featured in all three matches of India’s recent ODI tour of England. He has taken 11 wickets in six ODIs at an average of 32.81. Auqib Nabi Eyes County Cricket Stint Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi is exploring the possibility of a short stint in the English county circuit, subject to the completion of his visa formalities. The national selectors are understood to be keen on giving Nabi exposure to seamer-friendly English conditions and believe that a county stint could provide him with valuable match practice rather than having him participate in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. Nabi enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign for Jammu & Kashmir, taking 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 during a historic season. Despite his outstanding domestic record, he did not feature in a match during India’s recent Test tour of Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old pacer is nevertheless believed to be in contention for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, with his ability to swing the new ball considered a major strength. If a county opportunity fails to materialise, Nabi is expected to return to action during India A’s two-match series against Australia in Puducherry. The first game is scheduled to begin on September 22. He could then link up with the Jammu & Kashmir squad for their Irani Cup encounter against Rest of India, scheduled to be played from October 1 to 5 in Srinagar. Selection Challenges Ahead The second India A fixture against Australia overlaps with the Irani Cup, creating a potential selection dilemma for the national selectors. With several players likely to be considered for both assignments, the selectors will have to carefully balance the two squads. A change to the existing fixture schedule is understood to be virtually ruled out, meaning the selectors will have to manage player availability across the India A and Irani Cup campaigns. For Brar, however, the Duleep Trophy semi-final represents another important opportunity to strengthen his credentials in red-ball cricket as India continue to build their pace-bowling options ahead of the New Zealand Test series.

Arshdeep Singh is determined to establish himself as a three-format international, and his latest Duleep Trophy outing offered a valuable opportunity to prove his red-ball credentials. The India fast bowler, who has represented the country in 18 ODIs and 91 T20Is, is still awaiting his Test debut. His demanding white-ball schedule has limited his opportunities in first-class cricket, with a year passing between his 22nd and 23rd first-class appearances. Arshdeep made the most of his chance in the 2026 Duleep Trophy quarter-final, taking 3 for 53 and 1 for 40 as North Zone defeated West Zone by 52 runs at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. “Very rarely I get the chance to play red-ball cricket. And this was a chance,” Arshdeep said after the match. “I wanted to showcase my skill set and just see how many overs I can bowl. The rhythm feels nice. After a long time, I was playing a red-ball game. I put in a lot of hours in practice and it felt nice. The body is sore, but it’s a good sore because we got the win.” Red-ball preparation With red-ball cricket making a rare appearance on his schedule, Arshdeep had adjusted his training accordingly. He said his preparation depends largely on the format coming up next. “When white-ball season is coming, then you practise with the white ball. It’s very specific training based on what kind of season is coming in front of you,” he explained. North Zone head coach Ajay Sharma also reminded Arshdeep of one of the key advantages of Test and first-class cricket — the opportunity to recover from an unproductive spell. “Even if you don’t get wickets with the new ball, you have a chance to come back in the second spell,” Sharma told him, according to Arshdeep. “Red ball has that beauty of giving you a chance again.” Arshdeep has previous experience of county cricket, having played five County Championship matches for Kent in 2023. However, a packed Indian cricket calendar has made another stint in England difficult. The message from the BCCI, he said, has been simple: perform wherever possible in red-ball cricket and wait for the right opportunity. Tactical change brings Musheer’s wicket The Bengaluru pitch offered little assistance to the seamers, with spinners dominating proceedings. Arshdeep therefore had to rely on tactics and variation rather than conventional movement off the surface. His most notable moment came when he dismissed Musheer Khan in the first innings. Musheer had frustrated North Zone with a defensive 31 off 125 balls. Arshdeep then switched to around the wicket and surrounded the batter with an attacking off-side field, including a wide slip, gully, short mid-off, short cover and cover. The tactic worked. Arshdeep bowled a fuller delivery that generated extra bounce, and Musheer edged it. “There was nothing for seamers in that wicket,” Arshdeep said. “I just wanted to play with his mind. He was playing very defensively, so we wanted the fielders to be in front of his eyes and let him think that we’re doing something different.” Arshdeep stressed that his approach changes according to the conditions. “When you have purchase from the wicket, when they seam, when they swing, that’s when you stay patient and just keep hitting lengths. When it’s a different wicket, when there’s nothing off the pitch and just variable bounce, you’ve got to play with the field and try out different things.” North Zone hold their nerve The match appeared to be slipping away from North Zone when Musheer and Ruturaj Gaikwad put together a 111-run partnership for the fourth wicket during West Zone’s chase of 287. Arshdeep admitted that he briefly feared the contest was heading away from his team. “Then I was thinking, ‘Sher-e-Punjab, time to go back home’, and what time ticket should I get booked,” he joked. But the game changed dramatically after Gaikwad was run out in the 45th over following sharp work from North Zone wicketkeeper and captain Kanhaiya Wadhawan. West Zone collapsed from 195 for 3 to 222 all out, handing North Zone a 52-run victory. Arshdeep credited Wadhawan’s alertness for the turning point and said the team remained confident that breaking the partnership could open the door to a collapse. “We always knew that whenever the partnership gets broken, there’s always a chance when a new batter comes in. We wanted to stay in the game, just be patient, and that wicket came and after that it changed.” For Arshdeep, the quarter-final was more than just another domestic match. With a Test debut still on his international ambitions, the rare chance to bowl long spells and adapt to red-ball conditions could prove an important step in his development as a three-format cricketer.

Abid Mushtaq produced a match-winning performance with the ball as North Zone defeated West Zone by 52 runs in a thrilling Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, securing their place in the semi-finals. The Jammu & Kashmir allrounder claimed a remarkable nine wickets for 99 runs across the two innings on a red-soil surface that offered significant assistance to the spinners. A total of 25 wickets fell to spin during the match, with Mushtaq emerging as the decisive performer. West Zone began the final day needing 67 runs for victory, while North Zone required just three wickets. The contest, which had remained finely balanced, was settled in only 6.3 overs as Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu completed the cleanup of West Zone's lower order. Mushtaq struck with the second ball of the day, dismissing Tanush Kotian with a delivery that skidded low and beat his defence before crashing into middle stump. Tushar Deshpande survived for 17 deliveries before attempting to attack Mushtaq in the allrounder's third over. Drifting the ball from around the stumps, Mushtaq induced an edge that was safely taken by Abdul Samad at slip. Three balls later, Sindhu finished the match when Urvil Patel was trapped lbw for 25 while attempting to attack the left-arm spinner. West Zone's hopes of completing the chase disappeared in quick succession. Mushtaq turns the match around Mushtaq's impact had begun late on the fourth day, when West Zone appeared to be in control at 211 for 4. A century partnership between Musheer Khan and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had put West within sight of the target. Mushtaq broke the stand and then returned on the final morning to dismantle the lower order, finishing with figures of 5 for 39 in the first innings and 4 for 60 in the second. North Zone were also well served by Arshdeep Singh, who made an impressive return to first-class cricket after nearly a year away from the format. He claimed four wickets in the match, including three in the first innings, using late movement in both directions to trouble West Zone's top order. Anshul Kamboj also played a crucial role. With North Zone struggling at 161 for 7 in the first innings, Kamboj struck a valuable 60 to help his team reach 251. He then contributed with the ball, dismissing Mumbai's Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian in quick succession with the old ball. His efforts helped North secure a 64-run first-innings lead. North Zone strengthened their position in the second innings through Ayush Badoni, who scored his second consecutive half-century of the match. Badoni made 51 in the first innings and followed it with 50 in the second, providing his side with the cushion they ultimately needed. West Zone's chase was led by Musheer Khan, who narrowly missed out on a century with a score of 96, while Gaikwad contributed 66. However, once Mushtaq broke their crucial partnership, North Zone seized control. North Zone set up semi-final against South Zone The victory sends North Zone into the first semi-final, where they will face South Zone, led by Tilak Varma. In the other quarter-final, East Zone defeated North East Zone and booked their place in the second semi-final against defending champions Central Zone, led by Rajat Patidar. Both semi-finals will be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 30. For North Zone, the victory was built on a collective bowling effort, but Mushtaq's outstanding nine-wicket haul proved the difference on a surface heavily favouring spin.

Ishan Kishan believes the constant challenge of moving between white-ball and red-ball cricket is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game, despite the difficulties that come with adapting to different formats. Kishan led East Zone to a dominant innings-and-210-run victory over North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, recording his 65th first-class appearance. His previous first-class game had come in November 2025 against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy. Since then, the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has featured in 59 matches across international and domestic cricket, including the IPL, in just nine months. Having established himself primarily as a white-ball player, Kishan acknowledged that returning to red-ball cricket requires a significant adjustment. "Situations will get tricky," Kishan said in Bengaluru. "It will not be easy for us as players to just move around from white ball to red ball, red ball to white ball; change of format, change of gameplay. But that is the fun part about this game." Kishan also spoke candidly about the mental demands placed on professional cricketers. He stressed that players cannot afford to dwell on circumstances beyond their control if they want to succeed. "If you want to make it big, you want to make it count, you can't have many excuses," he said. "At the same time, I feel you should just think about getting better and not cry about things which you cannot control." Kishan admits to a red-ball mistake Kishan was unable to make a major contribution with the bat in East Zone's only innings, falling for four after attempting to guide a wide delivery behind point. He admitted that the shot was almost instinctive, despite knowing that he needed to leave deliveries outside off stump in a first-class match. "I was in the middle of the shot, and I was like, 'What the heck was I trying to do?' I should know this is a Test match and I need to leave a few balls," Kishan said. He attributed the mistake partly to a lack of recent red-ball practice and explained how thinking about avoiding a particular shot can sometimes lead to exactly the opposite outcome. "Sometimes when you think about something that you don't want to do, you end up doing it," he said. "I was just attracting those thoughts, which was not meant to happen, but yeah, it happened anyway." Despite the setback, Kishan insisted that his enthusiasm for red-ball cricket remains strong. He has played 32 ODIs and 55 T20Is for India, along with 134 IPL matches, while his last of two Test appearances came in July 2023. "I really do enjoy red-ball cricket," Kishan said. "It's always fun to be part of it because I love that challenge. Yes, it's easier to bat on flat tracks and it's fun as well, but the competition which goes around in Test matches is some different-level thing." East Zone dominate North East Zone East Zone produced an emphatic performance in the Duleep Trophy encounter, scoring 467 before dismissing North East Zone for just 111 and enforcing the follow-on. North East Zone resumed Tuesday on 7 for no loss, but East Zone's spinners continued to trouble the batters. Kishan noted that the surface was offering turn without much bounce, and East Zone eventually bowled their opponents out for 146 in only 50 overs. Anukul Roy was the standout bowler, claiming a five-wicket haul. Kishan was pleased that East Zone finished the game quickly rather than allowing the opposition to settle and consume valuable time. "I'm happy we got those wickets," he said. "If some of the batters were batting, it would have been easy for them to just control the game and keep on batting for the next one-and-a-half days." He also praised the bowlers for sticking to their plans and maintaining belief. "If you bowl in the right areas, you will have your plans clear, you will keep it simple, you will get your reward," Kishan said. Kishan wants greater intensity in semi-final While East Zone's victory was comprehensive, Kishan admitted that the team's energy levels were not where he wanted them to be after a long break from red-ball cricket. "We played after a very long time, this match, but I feel the energy was not up to the mark," he said. "But it can happen in these matches." East Zone will face Central Zone in the semi-final beginning on August 30, and Kishan expects his side to raise its intensity. "When we are going to play the next match, we'll have to be on our toes," he said. "We'll have to put effort, we will have to fight for each and every wicket." For Kishan, the return to first-class cricket has been a reminder that cricket may look simple from the outside, but adapting to its demands is anything but straightforward. "Cricket is always complicated, though it's simple," he said. "All of us know how we need to keep the sport simple, but it's very hard to maintain that."