The opening match of the Duleep Trophy 2024 between India A and India B has seen India B take a commanding lead after a solid batting performance on Day 3. Played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India B finished the day at 150/6, extending their overall lead to 240 runs.
India A Stumbles After Promising Start
India A, resuming their innings at 134/2, failed to capitalize on their overnight position. While they managed to hold on to the wicket of Riyan Parag for a while, key batsmen KL Rahul (37) and Dhruv Jurel (2) were dismissed cheaply.
A 30-run partnership between Shivam Dube and Tanush Kotian offered some hope, but both batsmen fell in quick succession. The India A tail failed to offer any resistance, collapsing to be bowled out for 231 runs. Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini were the pick of the bowlers for India B, claiming three wickets each. Sai Kishore also chipped in with two wickets.
India B Counter with Crucial Partnerships
India B’s batting response got off to a shaky start as they lost their openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, cheaply. Musheer Khan, the centurion from the first innings, also failed to replicate his performance, dismissed for a duck.
However, India B managed to recover through crucial partnerships. Sarfaraz Khan played a quickfire knock of 46 runs off 36 deliveries, providing some much-needed impetus. He then stitched a vital partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who played a magnificent innings of 61 runs off just 47 balls. Nitish Kumar Reddy also contributed with some runs before being dismissed as the final wicket to fall on Day 3.
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Mohmmad Shami watches IND A vs IND B Duleep Trophy Match
Indian speedster Mohammad Shami was spotted at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore during the IND A vs IND B Duleep Trophy clash. Shami is currently recovering from his injury and is still under rehab.
As of September 2024, there is no concrete information regarding Mohammad Shami’s return to the Indian Test team. While there were earlier murmurs about him potentially making a comeback in the Bangladesh series, it seems he might be targeting the New Zealand series instead. His injury recovery and form will be key factors in determining his availability for selection.
India B in Strong Position, India A Faces Uphill Battle
With four wickets remaining and a lead of 240 runs, India B is in a strong position to dictate terms on the final day. India A needs a strong bowling performance and some resolute batting to challenge India B’s dominance. The upcoming day’s play promises to be an exciting one as both teams vie for victory in this opening encounter of the Duleep Trophy.
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