Chennai, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Ishan Kishan extended his remarkable unbeaten record as a first-class captain to 16 matches after leading East Zone to their third Duleep Trophy title with a first-innings victory over South Zone on Thursday.
Kishan played a starring role in the final, scoring 350 runs across the two innings. His leadership success has now stretched across nine years, with his unbeaten captaincy run beginning in 2018 and placing him among the top 10 captains with the longest unbeaten records in first-class cricket.
According to CricViz, former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahinda Halangoda leads the list with an unbeaten run in 30 first-class matches as captain.
Kishan, however, credited East Zone’s collective effort rather than individual performances for the title triumph.
“We won this title as a group. I think everyone was taking care of each other, which was the most important thing for me,” Kishan said during the post-match presentation.
He acknowledged that there was still room for improvement, particularly in fielding and batting, and stressed the need for the team to keep developing.
The Duleep Trophy is Kishan’s second title as captain after he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2025/26 season.
Reflecting on his time away from the national team, the wicketkeeper-batter said the break helped him become calmer, more aware of match situations and more determined to contribute to his team.
“I’ve been more calm, more aware of situations, and more hungry. You want to perform for your team. You need to make your team win, and that is something which changed in me,” he said.
Kishan also indicated that his playful personality would remain intact, joking that his “cheeky” side would stay with him even into his 90s.
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