- In an intense match during the Duleep Trophy 2024, India B’s first innings saw some stellar individual performances, most notably from captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, who carried his bat throughout the innings, amassing a superb 157 not out. His innings was pivotal in guiding India B to a total of 332 against India C, but the team struggled to provide consistent support, falling short of building larger partnerships.
Source: Social Media
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s Masterclass: 157 Off 286 Balls*
The highlight of India B’s innings was undoubtedly Abhimanyu Easwaran’s resilient century. Opening the innings, Easwaran anchored the side amidst wickets falling around him. His patient knock, which spanned 286 balls, featured 14 boundaries and one six, showcasing his temperament and technique against a quality India C bowling attack. While others struggled to stick around, Easwaran’s ability to read the game and take calculated risks allowed him to hold the innings together.
His strike rate of 54.90 might not have been flashy, but it was precisely the kind of innings India B needed to stabilize the ship. Easwaran’s leadership with the bat was a testament to his maturity and understanding of the match situation, especially as wickets tumbled frequently from the other end.
N Jagadeesan’s 70 Provides Crucial Support
The only meaningful support to Easwaran came from wicketkeeper-batsman N Jagadeesan, who scored a solid 70 off 137 balls. His innings featured 8 boundaries and allowed India B to build their biggest partnership of the innings, worth 129 runs for the first wicket. Jagadeesan played the perfect second fiddle to Easwaran, rotating the strike and taking advantage of loose deliveries before eventually being dismissed by Anshul Kamboj, caught behind by Abhishek Porel.
Anshul Kamboj Destroys the Middle Order
India C’s bowlers, led by Anshul Kamboj, made life difficult for the rest of India B’s batting lineup. Kamboj ran through the middle and lower order, taking 6 wickets for 81 runs in a sensational spell. His accurate bowling and smart variations ensured that India B couldn’t capitalize on their strong start after the Easwaran-Jagadeesan partnership.
Kamboj’s victims included key batsmen such as Sarfaraz Khan (16), Musheer Khan (1), and Rinku Singh (6), all dismissed before they could settle in. His impressive six-wicket haul not only limited India B’s total but also showcased his ability to consistently pick wickets in critical phases of the game.
Other Key Contributions
- Sai Kishore chipped in with 21 runs off 44 balls, providing some stability lower down the order before being dismissed by Mayank Markande.
- Rahul Chahar added a brief cameo of 18 runs off 34 balls, but like many others, he fell victim to Anshul Kamboj’s deadly bowling.
- Washington Sundar managed 13 runs, including a boundary, but his dismissal marked the turning point where India B struggled to regain momentum.
Bowling Performance of India C
Apart from Kamboj’s six-wicket haul, Vijaykumar Vyshak took 2 wickets for 58 runs in 26 overs. He supported Kamboj admirably, breaking the partnerships when needed and maintaining pressure on the India B batsmen.
Mayank Markande also contributed with a wicket, getting rid of Sai Kishore. Though Markande was relatively expensive with figures of 33-8-96-1, he added value with his attacking leg-spin, giving India B some trouble at times.
The rest of the bowlers, including Manav Suthar and Ishan Kishan, maintained a good line and length but went wicketless, allowing Kamboj and Vyshak to take charge.
Summary of India B’s Innings
Despite the efforts of Easwaran and Jagadeesan, India B’s total of 332 in 108 overs was below what they might have expected after a strong start. The collapse in the middle order, due to Kamboj’s excellent bowling, prevented them from reaching a more imposing score.
However, Easwaran’s standout century provided India B with a fighting chance, keeping them competitive in what is shaping up to be an exciting contest in the Duleep Trophy 2024.
Conclusion
While Abhimanyu Easwaran’s 157* was a heroic effort that kept India B in the game, the batting lineup failed to offer consistent support, leaving them at 332 all out. Anshul Kamboj’s 6-wicket haul was a match-defining performance, ensuring that India C did not allow India B to run away with the game. This match continues to offer intense competition, and with plenty of cricket left, fans can expect more thrilling action as the Duleep Trophy 2024 unfolds.