In the decisive round of the 2024–25 Duleep Trophy in Anantapur, India B faces a significant first-inning deficit. Like in the previous game, Abhimanyu Easwaran fought alone for his team.
Easwaran supported his previous game’s undefeated 157 with a second consecutive century (170-ball 116), but was ultimately ruled caught behind. Easwaran attempted a hook shot and appeared to indicate that the ball had ricocheted off his arm guard.
Since the BCCI has only activated DRS for the other match, which is being televised between India A and India C, he was unable to challenge the ruling.
The timing of the runs couldn’t have been better, as India will be trying to decide whether to use a reserve opener position while preparing for the India An Australian tour and the Border Gavaskar Trophy, a five-test competition, both took place in Australia.
Sanju Samson was the one who created the excitement before Easwaran’s characteristically hard blow arrived.
He reached his 11th first-class century in 105 innings at a rate better than a run per ball. Samson’s 101-ball 106, which included 12 fours and three sixes, provided the foundation for India D’s 349.
In the first round of matches, Navdeep Saini had five wickets and a half-century in addition to an outstanding second performance (5 for 74).
Arshdeep Singh and Aditya Thakare struck back with the ball for India D, who had already lost both of their games and were already eliminated from contention for a trophy. Arshdeep, who has been an India white-ball regular, is trying to make his way up the red-ball rankings. He took 3 for 30 in 12 overs.
Among them were the noteworthy wickets of Musheer Khan (5) and Suryakumar Yadav (5). When Arshdeep picked him off, Nitish Kumar Reddy, one of the players the BCCI was targeting, scored a third single-digit total in the competition—two of which were ducks.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan and Rajat Patidar miss out as India A call the shots
Washington Sundar batted calmly and finished at stumps unbeaten on 39. If India D want to limit what could be a big first-innings deficit, he will have to contribute most of the scoring on Saturday.