Ishan Kishan led the way with a brilliant 270 as East Zone posted a mammoth 708 in their first innings. South Zone were then bowled out for 336, giving East Zone a commanding 372-run lead. Kishan was named Player of the Match, while South Zone captain Tilak Varma won the Player of the Tournament award.
Mohammed Shami also featured in the final, making his 100th first-class appearance. The experienced pacer claimed two wickets, dismissing Ravichandran Smaran and Shaik Rasheed, and finished the campaign with seven wickets.
Following the match, former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly spoke to the media at Eden Gardens. Asked about Shami’s performances and his chances of returning to the Indian team, Ganguly expressed his happiness at seeing the veteran pacer performing well in domestic cricket.
“What makes me happy is that Shami is performing well in the domestic circuit, which is terrific to see, and he has achieved a lot.”
Ganguly on Shami’s Selection Status
With the 2027 ODI World Cup still more than a year away, Ganguly was reluctant to comment on whether Shami could make India’s squad for the marquee tournament.
“October 2027 is a long time away, and I cannot comment on it.”
Ganguly was also asked whether the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had overlooked Shami. The former BCCI president rejected the suggestion and defended the selection process.
“He is not being neglected. He has played a lot and is a champion. This happens as you get older. I was dropped from ODI cricket despite scoring over 10,000 runs, but found my way back into the team. This happens to everyone.”
Shami’s strong showing in the Duleep Trophy will give the veteran fast bowler confidence as he continues his bid to return to India’s national setup. With plenty of cricket still to be played before the 2027 World Cup, the door remains open for the experienced pacer to make his way back.
