Priyank Panchal was expected to play the support role to the host of internationals in the West Zone top order. Instead, the skipper took it upon himself to shepherd a tricky run-chase against South Zone in the final of the Duleep Trophy once V Koushik had blown away the celebrated superstars at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Koushik shines

On Saturday’s penultimate day, Panchal held the chase together with an unbeaten 92, occasionally chancy but always unflagging, steering to his side to 182 for five at close, still a substantial 116 away from the target of 298. The loss in the day’s penultimate over of the well set Sarfaraz Khan pegged West back, but their end-of-day tally was still a significant improvement on 79 for four after Koushik had packed off Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav in the same over.