India, Sept. 11 -- The East Zone in the Duleep Trophy had a perfect mix of youth and experience in the squad, and that mix went a long way toward ensuring the side won the title. The Ishan Kishan-led side edged out South Zone on the basis of a first innings lead to win the red-ball competition for the first time in 13 years, and the third occasion overall. Throughout the entire campaign, there was amazing camaraderie on show, and the equation between Mohammed Shami and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was a sight to behold.

The final saw Shami showing his class on a dead as a dodo pitch, where he managed to get the better of Shaik Rasheed and Smaran Ravichandran. At one point in the summit clash, Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old, also chipped in as the...