The Duleep Trophy 2024 is currently set for a thriller between India A and India B, but it’s been a one-sided affair so far. India A’s bowling unit has dominated proceedings, leaving India B’s batters struggling to find their rhythm.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s lone resistance
Amidst the carnage, Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out as the lone warrior for India B. His elegant strokes and positive intent provided a glimmer of hope for his team. However, once he departed for a well-made 30, the batting order collapsed like a house of cards.
Akash Deep’s stellar performance in India A’s onslaught
One of the standout performers for India A has been Akash Deep. The pacer in the first and second session was consistently accurate, bowling at perfect lines and lengths, and has picked up crucial wickets. His ability to extract movement from the pitch has made him a nightmare for the India B batters.
Nitish Kumar Reddy falls victim to Deep’s masterclass
Deep’s highlight of the match was a sensational delivery that dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy. The pacer bowled a length ball on the middle stump, which nipped away after pitching, and beat the outside edge to castle the top of off stump. It was a classic example of precision and skill, leaving the batter stunned and the bowler jubilant.
Here’s the video:
— Cricket Cricket (@cricket543210) September 5, 2024
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India B batters exposed on a green top
The Duleep Trophy pitch has been prepared with an eye on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia. The green top has certainly exposed the technical deficiencies of some of the Indian batters. India B’s captain, Abhimanyu Easwaran, was dismissed for just 13, and even Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite his early promise, struggled to control his aggression and was sent packing for 30.
Middle order collapse
The middle order of India B has been particularly vulnerable. Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and star batter Rishabh Pant have all failed to make a significant contribution. With India B struggling at 124/7 till the tea break, it seems highly unlikely that they can recover from this precarious position.
As the Duleep Trophy progresses, it will be interesting to see if India B can find a way to bounce back. However, given the dominance of India A’s bowling attack, it appears that they will have their work cut out.