East Zone wins Duleep Trophy as Jharkhand players show strong form

East Zone secured the Duleep Trophy title on Thursday, marking the team's first tournament victory since 2012. Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan spearheaded the effort with 350 runs during the final. Additional contributions from Jharkhand cricketers Shikhar Mohan, Kumar Kushagra, Md Kounain Quraishi, and Anukul Roy bolstered the collective campaign. JSCA secretary Saurabh Tiwary credited the ongoing influence of former India captain MS Dhoni, who maintains a consistent presence at the stadium to mentor local players. Dhoni provides guidance on game-reading and mental preparation, which team officials view as a critical factor in the development of the state's emerging batting core. The successful campaign follows the team’s maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win last year, signaling a sustained rise for the region’s domestic talent pipeline.

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