Duleep Trophy: Tilak Varma Admits To South Zone Being 'outplayed' By East Zone

Duleep Trophy: Tilak Varma Concedes South Zone 'Outplayed' By East Zone

Bengaluru: South Zone captain Tilak Varma didn't sugarcoat it—his side was simply outplayed by East Zone in the 2026/27 Duleep Trophy final at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

East Zone posted a monstrous 708 in their first inn, powered by skipper Ishan Kishan's double ton, before dismissing South Zone for just 325. The massive first-inn lead proved too much, and East Zone lifted their first Duleep Trophy since 2012/13.

Varma, who scored a well-made 99 in South Zone's lone innings, took the hit like a leader: "Honestly it's disappointing, but they sealed the game when they hit 700. Everyone knows chasing 700 is tough, but credit to their batters. We had a few phases we could've captured but hadn't bowled that great."

The loss ends South Zone's bid for back-to-back titles. Varma added a candid note on the batting approach: "We were just thinking to bat on for the next three days. If we'd played three days, we might've hit 700 and maybe drawn it—but they totally outplayed us."

Varma also picked up the Player of the Series award, a fitting recognition for a series where he consistently delivered at the crease.

For South Zone, it's now about learning from this and coming back stronger. For East Zone, silverware after 13 years.

Source: Cricketnmore