East Zone ended a 13-year wait for a place in the Duleep Trophy final after defeating Central Zone by four wickets in the semifinal in Bengaluru. Chasing a target of 159, East reached 162 for six to secure a memorable victory. The result was powered by contributions from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, experienced opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. East had last reached the tournament final in the 2012-13 season and had been unable to return to the title clash since then. Their latest victory also ended Central Zone's hopes of defending the trophy after the defending champions were bowled out for 158 in their second innings.

Sooryavanshi once again emerged as one of the major talking points of the semifinal. After scoring an impressive 92 in East Zone's first innings, the teenager produced another attacking knock of 40 while chasing the modest target. He opened the innings alongside Easwaran and helped East make a confident start, putting together a 61-run partnership. Sooryavanshi initially handled the new ball carefully before shifting gears and attacking the Central bowlers. His innings included two sixes and three fours, but his dismissal briefly gave Central hope of turning the match around. He was caught by Central captain Rajat Patidar, who produced an outstanding running catch while moving backwards from the mid-wicket region.

Central Zone capitalised on Sooryavanshi's dismissal and continued to put pressure on the East batting order. Harsh Dubey was particularly effective, taking four wickets and reducing East to 124 for five. The chase, which had appeared to be under control earlier, suddenly became a tense contest as Central looked for another twist. Easwaran had already played an important role by scoring 69 in the first innings and again provided stability at the top of the order. His experience alongside Sooryavanshi helped East establish control before the middle-order collapse created uncertainty. With the target within reach but wickets falling, the responsibility shifted to Kishan, who responded with a composed unbeaten 39.

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Kishan's contribution was particularly significant given the unusual circumstances of the match. The wicketkeeper-batter had suffered an injury while keeping on the opening day, which meant Sooryavanshi had to take over the captaincy during the contest. Once Kishan returned to the middle, he took responsibility for finishing the chase and remained unbeaten as East crossed the target. Mohammed Shami provided support at the other end, finishing unbeaten on eight. Their partnership ensured that East did not allow Central to build further pressure after the loss of six wickets. The four-wicket victory ultimately reflected East's ability to remain composed during a difficult chase and make the most of the advantage created by their bowlers earlier in the match.

The foundation for East Zone's victory had been laid during Central Zone's second innings. Central resumed their innings at 45 for three but were unable to build a substantial lead and were eventually dismissed for 158. Mukesh Kumar led East's bowling attack with four wickets for 44 runs, while Shami claimed three wickets for 56. Mukesh finished the match with seven wickets and was named Player of the Match for his overall impact. The bowling effort meant East had to chase only 159, although the pressure of a semifinal and the collapse in their own first innings ensured that the target could not be taken lightly. Central's Rinku Singh had earlier scored 60 in the first innings, helping his side remain competitive after both teams finished their opening innings on 266.

The semifinal had been closely contested from the beginning, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage after the first innings. East initially appeared to be in a commanding position when Sooryavanshi and Easwaran put together a 161-run opening partnership. However, their momentum disappeared as the final nine wickets fell for only 105 runs, allowing Central to level the first-innings scores. Central then had an opportunity to take control, but East's bowlers delivered when it mattered most and restricted the defending champions to 158. The victory sends East Zone into the Duleep Trophy final for the first time since 2012-13, ending a long period without a title-round appearance. East will now face the winner of the second semifinal between North Zone and South Zone in the final, with the team carrying significant momentum after overcoming the defending champions.

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