India, Sept. 10 -- The fifth day of the Duleep Trophy final had long since ceased to resemble a contest by the time Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami found themselves at different crossroads of their careers. East Zone ended 760 runs ahead, the pitch having already surrendered any pretence of menace and the result effectively beyond doubt. Yet the game offered something more consequential than a trophy: a glimpse of two Indian cricketers using the domestic first-class stage to make the same argument - that red-ball cricket still matters to them.

Having already established a first-innings lead of 372, East Zone were 388 for 7 when Kishan finally called time. South Zone's players, who had spent most of the afternoon waiting for the inevitabl...