On the first day of the Duleep Trophy 2024–25 match in Anantapur, the India C quicks controlled the proceedings as Shashwat Rawat led the India A team in a lone battle with an unbeaten 122 off 235 balls.
With three wickets from Anshul Kamboj, two from Vijaykumar Vyshak, and one retrieved by Gaurav Yadav, India A was limited to 224 for 7 in 77 overs on the opening day.
If Shashwat Rawat hadn’t shown such defiance, India A’s loss of their top four for single-digit scores may have been far worse.
In just his 17th match, he scored his sixth first-class century while ranked No. 5 to help the team surpass 200. Avesh Khan was with him at stumps, having put on an uninterrupted 70-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Almost instantly, India C’s choice to field was confirmed as Kamboj and Vyshak destroyed the top order of India A, who had only managed 37 runs when they had already lost five wickets.
In the seventh over, Kamboj struck first, dismissing Pratham Singh for six when the ball found its way through his bat, taking the inside edge of his pad and lobbing to Sai Sudharsan at square leg. Subsequently, he had Mayank Agarwal edging an easy catch to Ishan Kishan, and Vyshak intervened to remove Riyan Parag.
Sai Sudharsan at one point gobbled up a routine catch, and Parag’s dismissal was light because he drove a full-length ball from Vyshak well outside off stump and failed to hold it down. As Tilak Varma was run out at the non-striker’s end, things took a turn for the worst when Shashwat’s full-blooded straight shot caught Vyshak’s left hand and bounced onto the stumps. Tilak had to leave for five because his bat was in the air.
Then, with 20 overs remaining before noon, India A lost half their side when Kumar Kushagra caught Vyshak behind for an eight-ball duck.
Together, Rawat and Mulani helped India A enter the break unscathed. Their team had cause for celebration when the pair put on an 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Before being Gaurav’s first victim, Mulani hit 44 off 76 balls, including five fours and a six, when Rajat Patidar made a brilliant catch to his left at gully.
Nevertheless, Rawat persisted, hitting his fifty off 119 balls. Tanush Kotian was the one on the receiving end, and he didn’t last very long since Kamboj delivered a brutal delivery that caught his gloves and bounced to Baba Indrajith at slips. At 154 for 7, it appeared like India A’s days were numbered, but Rawat received outstanding backing from Avesh.
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Avesh even hit two fours and a six in his 43-ball undefeated stay as the pair went deep into the game. With a tuck to the on-side, Rawat got his century in 174 balls. Rawat hit fifteen fours in his knock before the end of the day, and he will be looking to lead India A over 300 on the second day.
India
