Ishan Kishan couldn’t have picked up a better venue to remind everyone of his red-ball credentials.
The East Zone batter has also had two completely different, but no less important, innings in the Duleep Trophy final. He then struck a 270-run first innings marathon and was once again in the crease, but failed to make another century with a 99-ball 98.
Those displays have turned the match into a one-sided affair and have posed a big problem for the Indian selectors as well.
The loss of 708 in the first innings by East Zone left a void that South Zone could never make good. Although south put up a patient 80 from captain Tilak Varma, they were bowled out for 336 runs to give an edge of 372 runs to east.
Kishan then made sure that there was no opportunity for a comeback.
The lefty started strong and kept it up in his second. His most devastating spell was against the spinster Tripurana Vijay who was picked for four in the first delivery and six in the second, followed by six and four.
Kishan had to beat one close away after DRS but finally missed a shot of another hundred. However, help from his 99, East went on to reach 212 for five, and run a 584 run overall lead.
On the other side of the battle, Tilak’s knocks were different. The South Zone captain was left to fight a long battle for survival as Kishan attacked. It was a game that was extremely difficult to salvage because of his first innings deficit, but his 211-ball 80 did wonders in preventing the hosts from going down a completely different way.
Mohammed Siraj also had a flurry of shots in the second innings of the East side. The bowler was more alert and precise, and finally got him to depart with the wicket of Abhimanyu Easwaran. However, his efforts were unable to change the larger picture.
Surviving a previous review, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was a fly-half hour guest at the crease and was stitched up by Vijay.
The unbeaten pair Kumar Kushagra and Kounain Quraishi ensured that East were in the lead after the first day.
The match is now looking like a formality. The conundrum which makes more interesting reading might be what Kishan’s superlative finish means in the absence of the Duleep Trophy.
Kishan has been a timely reminder of both sides of his batting ability as India have looming important Test series ahead of them. His 270 was a measure of patience and endurance, and his 99 was an indication of his attacking style, better known.
In the East Zone, the prize is almost sure to be a Duleep Trophy. This final, for Kishan, may have turned out to be more valuable than ever — a potent assertion of his intent to play red-ball cricket.