Duleep Trophy 2024/25, IND-B vs IND-C 4th Match Report, September 12 – 15, 2024

India C 357 for 5 (Kishan 111, Indrajith 78, Mukesh 3-76) vs. India D

Originally not part of the revised squads named by the BCCI on September 10, Kishan was included late on the eve of the match. After a late run in Bengaluru, 200km away, Kishan capped India C, not the India D he was supposed to play, before sustaining an injury that forced him to miss the first round of matches last week.

Kishan won when he scored 189 runs for the third wicket with B Indrajith, which formed the backbone of India C’s performance; they finished on 357 for 5 after 79 overs. Indrajith scored 78, his second half-century in three innings.

Kishan, who brought up his seventh first-class century, hit 14 fours and three sixes during his knock, officially marking his return to red-ball cricket for the first time since his Test debut in the Caribbean in July 2023.

Last month, he had led Jharkhand in two pre-season matches at the Buchi Babu Invitational in Tamil Nadu – whose scores were no less than first division records. There, Kishan had scored a century on his first tour against Madhya Pradesh XI.

Three of India C’s five wickets were taken by seamer Mukesh Kumar, while Navdeep Saini and legspinner Rahul Chahar got one each.

India C, however, will be boosted by the return of Ruturaj Gaikwad, their captain, who retired injured in the first over after twisting his ankle. Gaikwad, who also struck at the fall of Indrajith’s wicket, added another 42 to his score for an unbeaten 46 at stumps.

UB Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar, both looking to establish themselves as the first choice in the middle order, could not build on strong starts, making 43 and 40 respectively.