Vaibhav Sooryavanshi returns Tilak Varma's sledge on Day 4 of Duleep Trophy final

Star Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi returned Tilak Varma's sledge on Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, completing a verbal exchange that had begun three days earlier on the opening day of the match.

The incident added a notable subplot to a final in which East Zone had firmly seized control. East Zone posted a commanding 708 in their first innings, and by Day 4, South Zone were eight wickets down while still chasing that imposing total, leaving them in a precarious position with very little batting remaining.

Sooryavanshi, who is 15 years old and serves as East Zone's vice-captain, had been on the receiving end of a stump-mic moment on Day 1 when South Zone captain Tilak Varma, aged 23, directed a pointed remark at him questioning his vice-captaincy. The exchange was picked up clearly on the stump microphone and circulated widely after that opening day.

What did Tilak Varma say to Vaibhav on Day 1?

On September 6, 2026, during East Zone's first innings, Tilak was caught on the stump microphone saying to Sooryavanshi: 'Kya re ye vice-captain?' The remark, aimed at the teenager's leadership role, quickly went viral and drew widespread attention to the age gap and the contrasting positions of the two players in the match.

Sooryavanshi had given Tilak and the South Zone bowlers ample reason to take notice during that innings. The youngster struck Mohammed Siraj for two fours and a six in a single over before eventually being dismissed for 44 runs. East Zone's captain for the final is Ishan Kishan, with Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar forming part of the side's pace attack.

Tilak, for his part, contributed 99 runs in South Zone's innings before being dismissed one short of a century, a dismissal that added to South Zone's mounting difficulties as they struggled to keep pace with East Zone's massive first-innings total of 708.

How did Day 4 unfold for East Zone and South Zone?

By the end of Day 4, East Zone remained firmly in control of the Duleep Trophy final. After posting a mammoth 708 in their first innings, East Zone reached 212/5 in 51 overs at stumps, extending their overall lead to 584 runs.

South Zone, who had been eight wickets down earlier in the day, continued to struggle against East Zone’s bowling attack. With the deficit still enormous and East Zone adding to their advantage, the result appeared increasingly inevitable.