As India prepares for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, many players who have represented the national team are currently competing in the Duleep Trophy. The tournament has become a crucial platform for players to showcase their form, but several well-known batsmen failed to make an impact in the first innings.
Shreyas Iyer’s India D faced off against Ruturaj Gaikwad’s India C, and within just two hours of the match starting, several key players had already returned to the pavilion. Shreyas Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, and Srikar Bharat were dismissed cheaply. In a parallel match between India A and India B, other prominent players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rishabh Pant also struggled.
Poor Start for Iyer, Padikkal, and Bharat
The India C vs. India D match in Anantapur began at 9:30 am, but by 11:30 am, India D had already lost four wickets, with 20 overs completed. Iyer managed just 9 runs, while Bharat was dismissed for 13 runs. Devdutt Padikkal, who had a promising IPL season, couldn’t even get off the mark, leaving India D in deep trouble.
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Yashasvi Jaiswal got off to a decent start against India A, captained by Shubman Gill. Jaiswal played a few good shots but was unable to build on his innings, getting out after scoring 30 runs.
Pant and Sarfaraz Fail to Deliver
Post-lunch, the Indian batsmen continued to struggle. Rishabh Pant, playing his first red-ball cricket match after 20 months due to injury, had a chance to make a strong comeback ahead of the Bangladesh series. However, he was dismissed after scoring only 7 runs, caught brilliantly by India A’s captain.
Sarfaraz Khan, who recently impressed with two half-centuries in his debut Test series against England, also couldn’t find his rhythm. His quiet outing added to India B’s woes, as their middle-order collapsed under pressure.
Akshar Patel Shines with a Crucial Knock
While several top-order batsmen failed, Akshar Patel stood out for India D with a fighting innings. Coming in when the team was struggling at 48/6, Akshar played a key role in stabilizing the innings. He reached his half-century in 78 balls and batted confidently alongside the lower order.
At the time of writing, Akshar had scored 72 runs, bringing his team close to 150 runs and giving them a fighting chance in the game. His performance will certainly boost his chances for selection in the upcoming Bangladesh Test series, where India will need a strong all-rounder to strengthen their squad.
