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 have 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 sector at No 3 within the 14th over after the autumn of Abhimayu Easwaran, the bowlers have 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 excellent 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 manner, as him strolling down the monitor to nullify the motion was a relatively 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 likelihood 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 Beneath-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 ought to 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 last session of the day.
However earlier than the Musheer-Saini mix dragged them again into the match, a number of ‘B’ batters have 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 excellent operating catch.
Yashasvi Jaiswal appeared 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 appeared to chop Khaleel previous the fielder at level, however there was not sufficient area to play that shot as substitute Shashwat Kumar held on to a positive 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 finest session of the day within the last passage of play to briefly slip out of bother.
Transient 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.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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