Rishabh Pant’s much-awaited return to red-ball cricket lasted a mere 10 balls and quarter-hour however Musheer Khan’s resolute unbeaten hundred carried India B to a passable 202 for seven towards India A, on the opening day of the four-day Duleep Trophy contest right here on Thursday. Earlier than Musheer (105 not out, 227b, 10×4, 2×6) and Navdeep Saini (29 not out, 74b, 4×4, 1×6) fought again for India B with a stand of 108 for the eighth wicket, they had been in an enormous gap at 94 for seven as ‘A’ skipper Shubman Gill made the prudent alternative of bowling first underneath overcast skies.
However Musheer, youthful brother of Sarfaraz Khan (9), saved his aspect from a complete collapse with an innings of uncommon maturity that belied his 19 tender years.
When the right-hander entered the sphere at No 3 within the 14th over after the autumn of Abhimayu Easwaran, the bowlers had been proper on high as a cover of darkish clouds hung over the Chinnaswamy.
Easwaran, normally a tightly organised batter, performed an informal waft exterior the off-stump off Avesh Khan and stumper Dhruv Jurel accomplished an outstanding diving catch simply in entrance of KL Rahul at first slip.
Musheer had multiple worries to nullify. There was considerable bounce, carry and motion for the India A pacers, who operated for a big a part of the day.
However Musheer tackled every of these difficulties in his personal means, as him strolling down the monitor to nullify the motion was a moderately curious sight. It was unconventional however was efficient on the day.
Nevertheless, even on a troublesome day, Musheer, who’s making his Duleep Trophy debut, gave glimpse of his elegant self via an exquisite on-drive off Avesh that sped to the fence and a withering lower off left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed (2/39).
There was a component of energy too when the right-hander hammered spinner Tanush Kotian for a few sixes in an over to maneuver into the 90s.
Musheer acquired a slice of fortune too when Avesh dropped a regulation probability off his personal bowling when the batter was on 69. India B was on 144 for seven then.
The Mumbai lad, who additionally had an exquisite Underneath-19 World Cup and Ranji Trophy season, duly introduced up his hundred off 205 balls with a single off Kuldeep Yadav, which he celebrated with gusto.
Saini too must be given a pat on his again for exhibiting guts to remain together with Musheer because the India A bowlers misplaced their sting and course within the remaining session of the day.
However earlier than the Musheer-Saini mix dragged them again into the match, a number of ‘B’ batters had been additionally careless of their shot choice and none exemplified it greater than Pant.
His first red-ball stint since December 2022 ended when his effort to cream Akash Deep off a fuller supply resulted in a vanguard, which Gill transformed into an outstanding working catch.
Yashasvi Jaiswal seemed in good contact throughout his 59-ball 30 that contained six well-executed boundaries, together with a crisp cowl drive off Khaleel, however a second of indiscretion ended his keep.
Jaiswal seemed to chop Khaleel previous the fielder at level, however there was not sufficient house to play that shot as substitute Shashwat Kumar held on to a wonderful catch.
Akash then produced the ball of the day to dismiss Nitish Kumar Reddy — the supply pitched on center and off moved ever so barely to knock down the bails because the batter walked again with a first-ball zilch.
Washington Sundar backed up too far to get run out as India B innings hit the free-fall button.
However Musheer and Saini helped India B to carve their greatest session of the day within the remaining passage of play to quickly slip out of bother.
Temporary scores: India B 202/7 in 79 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 30, Musheer Khan 105*; Khaleel Ahmed 2/39, Akash Deep 2/28, Avesh Khan 2/42) vs India A.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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