India A emerged victorious in the Duleep Trophy, defeating India C by 132 runs in a thrilling encounter at Anantapur. The triumph was orchestrated by the exceptional bowling performances of Tanush Kotian and Prasidh Krishna, who combined to claim six wickets.
India A, starting the final round with a three-point deficit, displayed unwavering determination throughout the four-day contest. Their dominance was evident from the outset, as they set a challenging target of 350 for India C.
The chase proved to be a daunting task for India C, who were bowled out for 217 in 81.5 overs. Krishna’s impressive figures of 3/50 from 13.5 overs included the final wicket of the match. Kotian, on the other hand, played a pivotal role in triggering a collapse in the opposition ranks.
At tea, India C were in a relatively comfortable position at 169 for three, with Sai Sudharsan in fine form. However, Kotian’s crucial strikes, including the dismissals of Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Porel, and Pulkit Narang, turned the tide in India A’s favor.
Earlier in the chase, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Vijaykumar Vyshak had provided some resistance, but their efforts were not enough to prevent India A from gaining the upper hand. Sudharsan’s valiant innings of 111 off 206 balls, which included 12 fours, proved to be a lone bright spot for India C.
The resistance crumbled when Sudharsan was dismissed by Krishna in the 78th over. Aaquib Khan and Shams Mulani also contributed to India A’s victory, dismissing Rajat Patidar and Manav Suthar respectively.
In the final stages of the match, Krishna added to his tally by dismissing Anshul Kamboj and Baba Indrajith for ducks, sealing a significant victory for his team.
Earlier in the day, India A declared their innings at 286 for six, batting for just a few overs. Riyan Parag (73) and Shashwat Rawat (53) scored fifties, while wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra contributed a vital 42, helping their side extend the overall lead to 349.
