Musheer Khan made a significant impact on Day 1 of the first-round matches of the Duleep Trophy 2024 on Thursday. The young Mumbai batter showcased his remarkable talent by hitting an unbeaten century, steering India B away from the brink of embarrassment against India A. In contrast, star cricketers like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav failed to leave a lasting impression.
Day 1 saw bowlers predominantly dominate both fixtures, with a total of 21 wickets falling across matches held in Bengaluru and Anantapur. Shreyas Iyer-led India D experienced a collapse in their first innings, scoring just 164 runs against Ruturaj Gaikwad’s India C, who finished the day with 91 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Rishabh Pant was one of the key players under the microscope in the India A vs India B clash, as it marked his first red-ball match since December 2022. Pant, who is anticipated to make a return to Test cricket in the upcoming series against Bangladesh, failed to make any significant impact with the bat against India A.
Pant managed to score only 7 runs off 10 balls before being dismissed by Akash Deep, thanks to an excellent catch by Shubman Gill. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also struggled, leaving India B in a precarious position at 94 for 7.
However, Musheer Khan, batting at the No. 3 position, played a pivotal inning, scoring a sensational century after settling into the game. His performance was instrumental in pulling India B to a total of 202 for 7 in 79 overs by the end of Day 1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He formed a crucial unbeaten 108-run partnership with pacer Navdeep Saini for the eighth wicket.
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For India A, pacers Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, and Avesh Khan each took two wickets, but ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav had a disappointing day, going wicketless in his 14 overs and proving costly.
Meanwhile, at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur, the fast bowlers also dominated the India C vs India D fixture. Captain Shreyas Iyer and left-handed batsman Devdutt Padikkal both failed to make an impact, resulting in an embarrassing collapse for India D, thanks to impressive spells from India C bowlers Vijaykumar Vyshak and Himanshu Chauhan.
Axar Patel was a standout performer for India D, scoring a valiant 86 runs off just 118 balls, which helped take the team’s total to 164 in 48.3 overs. Patel continued to make his mark with the ball when India C’s batsmen took to the field. Harshit Rana, the star pacer, dismissed openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan early in the innings, with Patel claiming the crucial wickets of Rajat Patidar and Aryan Juyal. This put India C in a commanding position.
Tamil Nadu’s star batter Baba Indrajith and young wicketkeeper Abishek Porel then added an unbeaten 48 runs for the fifth wicket, taking India C to 91 for 4 in 33 overs by the end of the day’s play.
The first day of Duleep Trophy 2024 offered a clear glimpse into the future talents of Indian cricket, with young players like Musheer Khan rising to the occasion while experienced campaigners like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav struggled to find their footing. The tournament, which serves as a crucial platform for players to push their cases for national selection, has already started off with enthralling action and unexpected turns.
As the competition progresses, fans and selectors alike will be keenly watching how these players perform under pressure, especially with upcoming international assignments on the horizon. Musheer Khan’s resilient innings has set a high standard for the rest of the tournament, and it remains to be seen whether the seasoned players can bounce back and assert their dominance as the Duleep Trophy unfolds.
