India A secured a commanding victory over India D by 186 runs in the third match of the Duleep Trophy 2024. The match, held at Anantapur’s Rural Development Trust Stadium, saw India A bounce back after their earlier loss to India B. This win keeps them in contention for the trophy, while India D, after two straight losses, have been eliminated from the competition.
India A’s Clinical Bowling Attack
India D was bowled out for 301 in their second innings while chasing a mammoth target of 488, set by India A. India A’s spinners dominated, with Tanush Kotian leading the attack with four wickets, and Shams Mulani contributing with three. These two spinners created pressure throughout India D’s innings, making it difficult for their batters to settle. Khaleel Ahmed and Riyan Parag also chipped in, taking one wicket each, adding to the collective team effort.
Ricky Bhui was the lone warrior for India D, scoring a resilient century, but his efforts couldn’t save the team. Yash Dubey showed promise, but his unfortunate run-out triggered a collapse, leaving Bhui without much support. India D’s innings crumbled as Kotian and Mulani spun webs around the lower order.
Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian: The Key Contributors
Shams Mulani’s all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award. He played a crucial role with both bat and ball. In the first innings, Mulani combined with Tanush Kotian to lift India A to a respectable score of 290. Mulani’s resilience with the bat was complemented by his disciplined bowling, which helped him take crucial wickets in both innings.
Tanush Kotian’s ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch made life difficult for the India D batters. His four-wicket haul in the second innings, including key dismissals, ensured India A’s path to victory.
Riyan Parag and Khaleel Ahmed’s Impact
Although Riyan Parag and Khaleel Ahmed didn’t take multiple wickets, their contributions were vital. Parag, who bowled leg-spin, claimed the final wicket of Vidhwath Kaverappa, sealing the win for India A. Ahmed provided important breakthroughs at the right moments, complementing the spin attack effectively.
Batting Highlights: Pratham Singh and Tilak Varma Shine
India A’s second innings was a batting masterclass, as they piled up 380/3. Pratham Singh and Tilak Varma were the standout performers, both scoring centuries and building a partnership that took the game away from India D. Singh’s controlled aggression and Varma’s technique helped India A set an almost insurmountable target for India D.
In contrast, India D’s batting struggled throughout the match. Atharva Taide’s early dismissal for a duck in their second innings put the team on the back foot, and apart from Bhui’s century, no other player could hold the innings together.
India D’s Early Struggles
India D was outplayed from the start, as their first innings saw them bundled out for just 183. Only Devdutt Padikkal made a significant contribution with the bat, while Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson failed to capitalize on their starts. The consistent bowling of India A, spearheaded by Mulani and Kotian, forced India D into defensive mode, leading to a flurry of wickets.
Mayank Agarwal’s Leadership
India A’s captain, Mayank Agarwal, played a crucial role in strategizing his team’s approach. Despite early setbacks on the first day, Agarwal marshaled his troops well, ensuring that India A recovered from 5 wickets down in the first session. His leadership was evident in the way the bowlers were rotated and how the team responded under pressure. Agarwal’s experience in leading Karnataka in the domestic circuit seemed to have translated well into his role for India A.
Conclusion: A Dominant Performance by India A
This match was a testament to the depth and quality of India A’s squad. The comprehensive nature of their win showcased the talent across their ranks, with strong performances from both the batsmen and bowlers. With this victory, India A has restored their position in the tournament and looks well-poised for a strong run in the remainder of the Duleep Trophy.
India D, on the other hand, will have to reflect on their shortcomings, especially their inability to tackle quality spin bowling. Despite Ricky Bhui’s valiant efforts, they failed to build partnerships, which ultimately cost them the match.