India's in-form batter Devdutt Padikkal and South Zone skipper Tilak Varma scored fifties but they are still way behind East Zone's first innings score in Duleep Trophy 2026 final. Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar struck twice and it will take a herculean effort from South Zone to avoid follow-on on Day 4 having lost six wickets already.
Padikkal scores fifty after openers depart
Earlier into Day 3's play, Mukesh Kumar dismissed Ricky Bhui. Vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi convinced captain Ishan Kishan to take the review and it worked in East Zone's favour. On Duleep Trophy debut, young Shikhar Mohan broke the partnership with Narayan Jagadeesan's wicket. He scored 32 runs from 42 balls. In the 24th over, Padikkal reached his half-century from 65 deliveries. At the end of first session, South Zone were 115/2 with Padikkal and Shaik Rasheed unbeaten.
Shami strikes twice
Early into the second session, Shami trapped Rasheed in front of the stumps. He scored 27 runs from 48 balls, playing ahead of Karun Nair. Then, Mukesh dismissed Padikkal who got caught at deep square leg trying to play a pick-up shot. He scored 62 runs from 104 balls.
Varma looked to block it out. Meanwhile, late into the second session, Shami got Smaran Ravichandran out caught behind. He scored 23 runs from 55 balls. South Zone lost half the side for 174. At tea break, they were 176/5.
Varma scores fifty, South Zone lose another
Varma and Shreyas Gopal looked to rescue South Zone once again. Gopal got a reprieve as Sooryavanshi dropped his catch in slip cordon off Mukesh's bowling. Skipper Ishan Kishan tried his hand with the ball after a 270-run knock. Varma hit him for a four in the 77th over to reach his seventh first-class half-century from 123 balls. But, in the final over of Day 3, Md Kounain Quraishi got Gopal out caught and bowled. Gopal returned to the pavilion after a 79-ball 26. Varma returned unbeaten on 56 off 133 balls with Chama V Milind by his side.
Will Kishan enforce follow-on?
Varma would hope to bat for long with support of lower order and the tail. South Zone still need 267 more runs to avoid follow-on. But, it is unlikely that Kishan enforces follow-on with his bowlers tired. East Zone will be guaranteed a win on the basis of first innings lead.