The Duleep Trophy final concluded in Chennai, where players from the Eastern region celebrated their victory, yet the match left behind a significant controversial moment from a cricket perspective. Although the tournament lasted five days, the outcome of the competition was effectively decided in the first half of the game.
The Eastern region scored 708 runs, while the Southern region managed only 366 runs, giving the Eastern region a substantial advantage and, essentially, the title.
A question arose as to whether the Eastern region would risk everything for the win. The answer lies in the specifics of the Duleep Trophy rules: if the match ends before the completion of the second innings, the winner is determined based on the advantage gained in the first innings. Thus, gaining an advantage in the first game gives the team the strongest leverage to win the trophy, limiting the incentive to take additional risks to turn the match into a decisive one.
The captain of the Eastern region, Ishan Kishan, clearly expressed this mentality when answering the question about the follow-on. He noted that his team had played for about two days, and the match was essentially a 'first innings game.' His primary objective was to take all 10 wickets from the Southern region, after which batting would be a more natural choice.
Kishan jokingly asked why they would want to play cricket again in the heat for three days. This joke reveals the essence of the rule: when the advantage in the first innings secures the trophy, it is difficult for the captain to expect him to risk the team's title by allowing the opponent another chance to bat.
Despite the Eastern region playing the second innings, they declared it closed approximately half an hour before tea on the fifth day. The Southern region did not have enough time to catch up and change the momentum of the match. Both captains met and shook hands, concluding the final in a draw. However, according to the rules, the Eastern region had already become the champion.
The situation was not solely related to the rules. The red soil of Chennai also provided significant advantages to the batsmen. Over five days, the pitch did not change substantially; sometimes the ball flew low, and sometimes it bounced, but it did not offer consistent assistance to the bowlers.
The Eastern region's coach, Ratan Kumar, did not complain about the pitch, stating that it was a magnificent ground for batsmen to play on, and whoever secured their place scored big points. This is why Ishan Kishan played a marathon innings, scoring 270 runs off 334 balls, bringing the Eastern region to 708 runs. The Southern region scored 366 runs, but the direction of the match changed after the huge advantage in the first innings.
The absence of some experienced local players in the Southern region's squad also raised questions. Players such as Karun Nair and A Ar Sai Kishore were absent from the final and participated in other matches. A grand final becomes more interesting when both teams field with their best available players. Here, selection, the pitch, and the rules together limited the tension of the match.
There was good public interest in Chennai to see 15-year-old Vaibhav Survanshi. This young batsman also increased interest in the match. However, as the Eastern region's first innings grew longer, the match gradually turned into a contest where preserving the advantage was more important than winning.
Nevertheless, for the Eastern region, it remained a historic victory. The team won the Duleep Trophy after a long wait, having previously won it in 2012-13. After the victory, the players walked around the field to thank the spectators.
But one question remained amidst this celebration: if the trophy is almost guaranteed after gaining an advantage in the first innings, what risk will the captain take in the last two days of the final? The BCCI must now reconsider this old Duleep Trophy rule. If the trophy is almost secured after the first innings advantage, why should the captain risk it for the win? The Chennai final clearly showed that this rule steers strategy towards safe play rather than an exciting competition. What is needed is the thirst for victory, not just the necessity to maintain the first innings advantage.
