Sai Sudharsan worked in vain, since India A Seal the Duleep Trophy title

After putting in a lot of effort and defying the bowlers to get his fifth first-class century, Sai Sudharsan was out trying to scoop for 111. Prasidh brought in injured batsman B Indrajith for his next over, the 80th, solely because a draw had looked likely.

At the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy, which opened the season in Anantapur, Prasidh Krishna ended India C’s resistance with three quick wickets with 4.1 overs remaining and the light slowly diminishing.

After a lengthy injury layoff, Prasidh played his second consecutive first-class match and won by dismissing centurion B Sai Sudharsan, Baba Indrajith, and Anshul Kamboj.

However, Prasidh had Indrajith, who had been brought in especially for the short ball, caught at leg slip while he attempted to block a short ball that was intended for the ribs. Then, to finish the innings, Prasidh bowled full and straight to dismiss Kamboj for a leg before wicket in the 81st over, using a fresh ball that was grabbed at the first opportunity.

It was youthful Uttar Pradesh seamer Aaqib Khan who did the early damage, nicking off Ruturaj Gaikwad with a brilliant outswinger and then bowling Rajat Patidar, while Prasidh completed the late demolition.

After those breakthroughs, Agarwal called upon his spinners on a surface that was starting to take turn on the last day, but not enough to make making strokes impossible. Ishan Kishan and first innings top scorer Abhishek Porel were taken by offspinner Tanush Kotian, while another Mumbai player Shams Mulani removed Manav Suthar to create a chance for victory.

Before then, it didn’t appear like Indrajith, who had hamstring trouble and retired injured at 34 in the first innings, would be available for India B. He entered a crowded close-in ring with the prospect of a draw in sight, but he was only able to make two deliveries. After a tense few deliveries of playing and missing to secure the match, Prasidh and India A took the final wicket, turning an optimistic group into a loud one.

Thanks to a brilliant century by Baroda’s Shashwat Rawat, who struck 124 in the first innings to set the game up in the face of a batting collapse, India A were able to win the match hands-down.

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Then, in the second, he and Riyan Parag struck half-centuries to establish a declaration that ultimately enabled them to put pressure on the scoreboard on the last day.