Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is currently leading East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026, where he caught everyone's attention with a remarkable display of agility behind the wickets. Although his bat remained quiet during the first innings of the quarter-final match against North East Zone, Kishan created a massive buzz on social media with a stunning stumping that prompted several fans to draw comparisons to legendary former captain MS Dhoni.
The eye-catching incident unfolded during the 21st delivery of North East Zone's innings in the second over. Fast bowler Abhijit Sarkar delivered a full ball down the leg side. Batter Ashish Thapa stepped forward in an attempt to turn the ball towards the leg side, but completely missed making contact. Ishan Kishan, standing very close to the stumps, quickly attempted a stumping. The ball momentarily slipped from his gloves on the initial grab. However, Thapa had also lost his balance while playing the shot and found his foot stranded outside the crease. Kishan reacted instantly, regripping the ball on the second attempt and whipping off the bails in a flash. After thoroughly reviewing the replays, the third umpire confirmed the dismissal.
The video showcasing Kishan's brilliant reflexes has been widely shared online, including a clip posted on X by BCCI Domestic, capturing the attention of cricket enthusiasts everywhere. Meanwhile, East Zone's bowling attack dominated the proceedings, spearheaded by pacers who dismantled the opposition.
Abhijit Sarkar delivered a stellar spell, claiming 5 wickets to bundle out North East Zone for a meager 111 runs, subsequently enforcing the follow-on. Aside from Sarkar's masterclass, Shahbaz Ahmed picked up three wickets for East Zone, while Mukesh Kumar and Anukul Roy chipped in with one wicket each. Experienced pacer Mohammed Shami, however, went wicketless. Ashish Thapa stood out as the lone fighter for North East Zone, scoring 32 runs before the innings folded.
Before their bowling heroics, East Zone had put up a massive total in their first innings. The team endured a shaky start, losing early wickets of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhimanyu Easwaran with just 25 runs on the board. Kumar Kushagra and Sudip Kumar Gharami then steadied the ship, constructing a vital 92-run partnership. Kushagra contributed a useful 55 runs before Akash Chaudhary broke the stand and struck again soon after.
Following Kushagra's departure, Sudip Kumar Gharami anchored the innings firmly. He converted his fifty into a magnificent hundred, scoring 146 runs off 185 deliveries. Gharami received exceptional support from Shahbaz Ahmed, and the pair stitched together a crucial 150-run partnership. Initially, both batters exercised caution against the pacers, but accelerated their scoring once the spinners were introduced. After Gharami's dismissal, Shahbaz took charge and played a superb knock of 164 runs. Lower-order batters also contributed valuable runs, pushing East Zone comfortably past the 460-run mark.
