An exciting moment unfolded during the Duleep Trophy final match between East Zone and South Zone at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. As the second day's play progressed, East Zone batsman Kumar Kushagra brought up a brilliant century off just 128 balls. Following his three-figure mark, he celebrated in a uniquely entertaining style by holding his bat like a violin and mimicking playing an instrument. This peculiar celebration quickly went viral across social media platforms, capturing the attention of cricket enthusiasts everywhere. The video capturing this moment was shared on social media, drawing widespread appreciation from fans.
Dismissed after scoring 101 runs
In this title clash, Kumar Kushagra came out to bat at number six. He teamed up with captain Ishan Kishan to steady the innings, building a crucial 230-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, Kushagra could not prolong his stay at the crease much longer after completing his century. He was dismissed after scoring 101 runs from 132 deliveries, striking 8 fours and 5 sixes during his knock. This marks the sixth first-class century of Kushagra's career. During the first innings of the final, Tripurana Vijay was the bowler who dismissed him and sent him back to the pavilion.
Strong domestic cricket record
Kumar Kushagra has delivered impressive performances across all three formats in his domestic cricket career so far. In first-class cricket, he has played 36 matches spanning 56 innings, accumulating a total of 2291 runs with 6 centuries and 6 half-centuries. In 50-over List A matches, he has featured in 39 games, scoring 1370 runs across 34 innings at an impressive average of nearly 53, which includes 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries. Meanwhile, in T20 cricket, Kushagra has played 33 matches across 31 innings, scoring 694 runs at an average of around 28, featuring 5 half-centuries.
East Zone in a commanding position
Assessing the current situation of the Duleep Trophy final, the East Zone team appears to be in a very strong position. Apart from Kumar Kushagra, captain Ishan Kishan also scored a century for East Zone in the first innings. By the lunch break on the second day, the team had posted 491 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Captain Ishan Kishan was still at the crease batting on 171 runs, accompanied by Anukul Roy who was batting on 5 runs. Meanwhile, the South Zone team desperately needs quick wickets from here to stage a comeback in the match.
