Chepauk Stadium came alive on September 6 as cricket enthusiasts packed the venue to catch their first live glimpse of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone.
Chepauk goes wild as fans crowd around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The 15-year-old prodigy did not disappoint, delivering a quick-fire burst before being dismissed by Chama Milind in the 15th over. Following his innings, the crowd favourite spent time along the boundary ropes obliging eager spectators with signatures on match balls and replica jerseys—a rare treat for local fans, given his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals had missed out on playing in Chennai over the past two seasons.
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While East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan eventually grabbed the headlines with a masterly, unbeaten 111 off 135 deliveries, it was Sooryavanshi who set the stage for a run-heavy opening day. The left-hander stroked a brisk 44 off 37 balls, featuring five boundaries and a maximum. The standout moment came during the seventh over when he fearlessly took down Indian international Mohammed Siraj, hammering two fours and a towering six off consecutive balls. Siraj and the rest of the South Zone attack endured a grueling outing on a flat track, with the pacer returning figures of 0 for 96 in 14 overs.
A blistering 100-run opening partnership between Sooryavanshi and veteran Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran took just 14.4 overs to set the tone for the day. While both Easwaran (72) and Shikhar Mohan (85) constructed valuable, distinct innings, both fell short of three figures after laying a formidable foundation.
Capitalising on that setup, skipper Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra dictated the terms late into the day, driving East Zone to a commanding 385/4 by stumps. Kishan displayed remarkable control and intent, bringing up his half-century in 61 balls before completing his century off 122 deliveries. Remaining unbeaten on 111 alongside Kushagra's 63*, the captain put East Zone in a dominant position to push for their first Duleep Trophy title.