Ishan Kishan made a fantastic comeback century to first-class cricket, scoring a counterattacking 111 from 126 balls. This helped India C take control on the first day of the second round of the Duleep Trophy in Anantapur.
Late Inclusion and Quick Adjustment
Kishan wasn’t originally named in the updated squads announced by the BCCI on September 10. However, he was added to India C at the last minute. He made a quick journey from Bengaluru, around 200 kilometers away, to join India C. Initially, Kishan was supposed to play for India D but had to sit out the first match due to a groin injury.
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Big Partnership with Indrajith
Kishan’s 111 came as part of a 189-run partnership for the third wicket with B Indrajith, who scored 78. This partnership was key to India C’s strong performance, as they reached 357 for 5 in 79 overs. Indrajith’s 78 was his second half-century in just three innings.
Kishan’s Impressive Comeback
Kishan’s century was his seventh in first-class cricket. His innings included 14 boundaries and three sixes, marking his return to red-ball cricket after his Test debut in July 2023 in the West Indies. Recently, Kishan had led Jharkhand in the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational tournament, where he also hit a century against a Madhya Pradesh XI. However, those matches don’t count as first-class games.
Mukesh Kumar Leads the Bowling Attack
On the bowling front, Mukesh Kumar was the star for India D, taking three of the five wickets. Navdeep Saini and legspinner Rahul Chahar took one wicket each.
Gaikwad’s Return Boosts India C
India C captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had to retire hurt in the first over after twisting his ankle. However, he returned to bat after Indrajith’s dismissal and added 42 more runs, finishing unbeaten on 46 by the end of the day.
Other Contributions
B Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar, both aiming to secure spots as key middle-order players, had promising starts but couldn’t convert them into big scores. They made 43 and 40 runs, respectively.
This impressive display from Ishan Kishan and India C sets them up well for the remaining days of the match.
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