Cricket

India D emerged victorious in the final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024-25, securing a 257-run triumph over India B in Anantapur. The victory was largely attributed to Arshdeep Singh's career-best first-class performance, where he claimed 6 for 40 in India B's second innings.Chasing a daunting target of 373, India B's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Arshdeep's relentless pace and Aditya Thakare's accurate swing bowling. The duo shared all ten wickets, with Arshdeep dismissing the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav for a mere 16.Nitish Kumar Reddy provided some resistance for India B, remaining unbeaten on 40, but his efforts were in vain as Arshdeep fittingly wrapped up the innings with the final wicket before tea on the fourth day.Ricky Bhui, who was named Player of the Match, played a pivotal role in India D's victory. His unbeaten 119 in the second innings, coupled with his 56 in the first, helped extend India D's lead after they had stumbled to 18 for 3.Bhui's century, his 20th in first-class cricket, was a testament to his resilience and determination. India D's victory was a fitting end to a tournament that showcased the depth of talent in Indian domestic cricket.

India D has taken a commanding lead over India B in the final Duleep Trophy fixture in Anantapur. Resuming on 210 for 6, India C added 72 runs to their overnight score, thanks largely to Washington Sundar's 87. Saurabh Kumar claimed the remaining four wickets to finish with a five-wicket haul.India D's second innings got off to a shaky start as Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar reduced them to 18 for 3. However, Shreyas Iyer counterattacked with a quickfire 50, hitting seven fours and a six. Sanju Samson, who scored a century in the first innings, contributed 45, while Ricky Bhui remained unbeaten on 90.At stumps, India D were 244 for 5, with Bhui and Akash Sengupta at the crease. They lead India B by 311 runs with five wickets in hand.India B, currently second on the table, face an uphill task to win the title. They need to win outright and hope that neither India C nor India A win outright.

India D asserted their dominance against India B in the Duleep Trophy match in Anantapur, thanks to a collective batting effort led by Sanju Samson's unbeaten 89.After India B opted to field, Devdutt Padikkal and KS Bharat laid a solid foundation with a 105-run opening partnership. Padikkal notched up his third consecutive half-century, while Bharat contributed a steady 52.However, India B's bowlers managed to break the partnership, with Navdeep Saini dismissing Padikkal and Mukesh Kumar removing Bharat. Nishant Sindhu and Ricky Bhui then combined for a 53-run stand, but Rahul Chahar's quick double-strike put India D in a spot of bother.Chahar dismissed Sindhu and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession, leaving India D at 175 for 4. Bhui, who had scored a century in the previous match, continued his good form with a 56-run knock.Samson, however, proved to be the anchor for India D. He played an aggressive innings, hitting ten fours and three sixes in his 83-ball knock. He shared an unbroken 90-run partnership with Saransh Jain, who remained unbeaten on 26 at stumps.For India B, Chahar was the standout bowler, claiming 3 for 60 in 13 overs. Mukesh and Saini also picked up a wicket each.

Suryakumar Yadav, India's T20I captain, has been cleared to play in the final round of the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy, beginning on Thursday in Anantapur. He will replace Sarfaraz Khan in the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led India B team, which will face the Shreyas Iyer-led India D.Yadav had been withdrawn from the squad prior to the first round as a precautionary measure to nurse a thumb injury. He had complained of discomfort while gripping the bat after sustaining a blow on his right thumb while fielding at the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational in Coimbatore.Yadav, who hasn't featured in any form of first-class cricket since last year's Duleep Trophy, has expressed a desire to compete for a spot in India's Test team. "There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," he said last month.Going forward, Yadav is likely to be in action next during the home T20Is against Bangladesh in October, which could mean his unavailability for at least the first round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season that's set to kick off on October 11.India B, who opened the tournament with a thumping win over India A, are currently second in the four-team table. An outright win in their final game will give them a good chance of clinching the title.

Medium-pacer Anshul Kamboj's impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy has earned him praise and recognition. The 23-year-old was initially surprised by his selection but seized the opportunity to showcase his skills.In the second-round match against India-B, Kamboj's eight-wicket haul for 69 runs played a pivotal role in securing a significant first-innings lead for India-C. His maiden First Class five-wicket haul came on a batting-friendly wicket, highlighting his ability to adapt and excel in challenging conditions.Kamboj's bowling effort was particularly impressive considering the absence of pace spearhead Sandeep Warrier due to a hamstring injury. He and Vijaykumar Vyshak had to shoulder the extra workload, which they did with aplomb.Despite having played only 13 First Class matches prior to the tournament, Kamboj displayed maturity and composure. He explained his strategy of bowling in front of the batters to increase the chances of lbw and bowled dismissals.Among his wickets, Kamboj was particularly proud of dismissing Sarfaraz Khan, a renowned batsman in the domestic circuit. He credited his success to bowling in the right areas and maintaining consistency.India-B skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran, who carried his bat with an unbeaten 157, expressed satisfaction with his ability to bat for an extended period after recovering from a hamstring injury. He emphasized the importance of spending time in the middle and gaining confidence for future matches.Kamboj's performance has not only earned him the Player-of-the-Match award but also raised hopes for his future prospects. His ability to perform under pressure and adapt to different conditions bodes well for his career.

India B Trails India C by 216 Runs on Day 4 of Duleep Trophy 2024India B resumed their innings on Day 4 of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 match against India C, trailing by 216 runs. Abhimanyu Easwaran and Rahul Chahar remained unbeaten at the crease, with Easwaran standing firm at 143.India B had ended Day 3 at 309/7, with Easwaran and Chahar guiding the team towards a draw. The match is poised for a stalemate, with India B requiring 66 runs to avoid a follow-on.Earlier, India C had posted a mammoth 525 in their first innings, thanks to a century from Ishan Kishan. India B's bowlers struggled to contain the opposition's batting lineup, with only Saurabh Kumar managing to take three wickets.In response, India B's top order failed to make significant contributions. However, Easwaran's century and Chahar's unbeaten knock have kept their hopes alive.The match is expected to end in a draw, with both teams unlikely to force a result. India B will be satisfied with their performance, having shown resilience in the face of a strong India C side.

Indian Test cricket's long-standing fringe player Abhimanyu Easwaran showcased his resilience and determination in the second-round Duleep Trophy match against India-C at the Rural Development Trust (RDT) Stadium B-ground.Easwaran, who has often been on the cusp of Test selection, anchored his team's innings with a gritty 143 (262b, 12x4, 1x6) on Saturday. His unbeaten knock helped India-B end the third day on 309 for seven, still 216 runs behind India-C's first-innings total of 525.Easwaran's innings was a testament to his patience and ability to grind out runs in challenging conditions. He shared a 129-run opening partnership with N. Jagadeesan (70), who was caught behind off medium-pacer Anshul Kamboj.However, India-B's progress was hampered by a middle-order collapse. Musheer Khan and Sarfaraz Khan fell cheaply to Kamboj, while Rinku Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy were dismissed by Kamboj and Markande, respectively.Kamboj emerged as the star performer for India-C, claiming a five-wicket haul. His incisive bowling put India-B under pressure and restricted their scoring rate.Despite the setbacks, Easwaran remained unyielding at the crease. He brought up his 24th first-class hundred off 178 balls, displaying his unwavering focus and determination.Easwaran's innings was a reminder of his potential and the value he can bring to the Indian Test team. His ability to bat for long periods and anchor the innings could prove invaluable in the future.

India B openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Narayan Jagadeesan put on a solid opening stand of 124 runs on the second day of their Duleep Trophy match against India C in Anantapur. The duo remained unbeaten at stumps, with Easwaran on 51 and Jagadeesan on 67, as India B trailed by 401 runs.Easwaran, the experienced Bengal batter, played a patient innings, facing 91 balls and hitting four fours and a six. Jagadeesan, the wicketkeeper, was more aggressive, scoring his runs off 126 deliveries with eight boundaries.India C bowlers failed to make any inroads into the India B batting, with none of them able to pick up a wicket in the 36 overs bowled. Frontline bowler Sandeep Warrier was forced to leave the field due to an injury early in the innings.Earlier, Manav Suthar played a crucial role in helping India C post a mammoth first-innings total of 525. The 22-year-old scored a well-crafted 82 off 156 balls, anchoring the innings after the departure of overnight batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.Suthar found support from Anshul Kamboj, who made a quickfire 38 off 27 balls, and Mayank Markande, who contributed 17 off 21 deliveries. Suthar's knock included 11 fours and three sixes, and it was his fourth First-Class half-century and first in the Duleep Trophy.Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar was the most successful bowler for India C, taking 4/73, while pacer Mukesh Kumar also chipped in with 4/126.On the first day, Ishan Kishan had marked his First-Class return with a counterattacking century, scoring 111 off 126 balls to help India C reach 357 for five.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Retires Hurt in Duleep Trophy Match, India C Faces Early SetbackIndia C captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's Duleep Trophy campaign took a setback on Thursday when he retired hurt after facing just two balls in their match against India B at the Rural Development Trust Stadium B in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.Gaikwad, who is also the captain of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, twisted his ankle on the second delivery he faced from pacer Mukesh Kumar. He managed to hit a four on the first ball but was forced to leave the field after the injury.The injury is not considered serious, and Gaikwad is expected to bat in the second innings. However, his early departure put India C on the back foot, as they lost their captain and key batsman early in the innings.Despite the setback, India C managed to recover with a solid partnership between Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar. Sudharsan scored 43 runs off 75 balls, while Patidar contributed 40 runs from 67 balls. The duo shared a crucial 92-run stand for the second wicket, facing 140 balls in total.After their promising partnership, both batters were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Ishan Kishan and Baba Indrajith to rebuild the innings.India B, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, won the toss and opted to bowl first. They put India C on the back foot early, with Gaikwad's injury and the dismissals of Sudharsan and Patidar.However, India C showed resilience and fought back with a solid partnership between Kishan and Indrajith. The duo put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket, helping India C recover from the early setbacks.The match is evenly poised, with India C looking to build on their recovery and India B aiming to take control of the game.