East Zone claimed their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years after the final against South Zone ended in a draw at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 10, 2026. The tournament, which ran from August 23 to September 10, saw East Zone secure victory on a first-innings lead. Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar played key roles with the ball, taking five wickets between them to dismiss South Zone during the match.
Shami opened up about his interactions with young teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was 15 years old during the tournament. The India pacer revealed the nature of their relationship and the light-hearted exchanges that took place in the dressing room.
Shami and Sooryavanshi shared a warm rapport during the tournament, with the senior pacer engaging in regular banter with the teenager. The exchanges reflected a comfortable dynamic between the two players despite their significant age difference.
“He loves pulling my leg! I usually tease him back by saying he isn’t even as old as my cricket career. But he constantly banters with me, and that’s great to see. Being able to open up, mingle freely, and build camaraderie will serve him well going forward. I always encourage players to speak openly with everyone [in the team],” Shami said (via ESPNcricinfo).
Shami’s playful exchange with young Sooryavanshi
Shami emphasised the importance of creating an environment where younger players felt comfortable engaging with senior members of the squad. He highlighted how the banter between him and Sooryavanshi reflected a healthy team dynamic that extended beyond the playing field. The pacer noted that such interactions helped build stronger bonds within the group.
Shami also lauded the maturity that the current crop of youngsters in Indian cricket has and credited tournaments like the IPL for it. He added that these youngsters don’t need too much coaching and a few tactical inputs during crunch match situations are sufficient for them.
“Most of these youngsters are already quite mature. With the level of cricket they play today, in the IPL and other high-pressure tournaments, maturity comes early, so you don’t need to over-coach them. But yes, when the game gets tight and challenging, that’s when you step in with tactical inputs and remind them to keep fighting,” The speaker said.
