Replying to India C’s big first innings total in the second round of the Duleep Trophy 2024/25, captain Abhimanyu Easwaran is desperately fighting for India B with a solid century. 

As the reply to India C’s first innings total of 525 runs, India B started the third day at 124/0. However, during the fourth over of the day, wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan was dismissed for 70 runs as the opening partnership ended with 129 runs. 

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Abhimanyu Easwaran batted the complete day 3 to score 143 not out

Since the opening partnership was broken, the other opener and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran was battling, while his other partners failed to provide any solid support to the captain. Among the other India B batters, only Sai Kishore (21) reached the 20-run mark, while Rahul Chahar was batting on 18 runs at the stumps of the day.

Starting day three on 51 runs, captain Easwaran took the responsibility to set up the challenge. The 29-year-old slammed his 24th first-class century and batted the complete third day to remain not out on 143 runs off 262 balls with 12 fours and one six. India B ended the day on 309/7 as they are still 67 runs behind the follow-on target.  

The right-arm medium bowler for India C, Anshul Kamboj, picked up five wickets on the third day. He finished the day with the bowling figures of 23.5-7-66-5. 

With Ishan Kishan’s century on his first-class return, three more half-centuries, and some other supporting batting performances, India C scored 525 runs in the first innings of the match. 

India A set a 488-run target for India D

Meanwhile, in the other match of the Duleep Trophy, India A have set up the giant 488-run fourth innings target for India D. Stating the third day on 115/1 with a lead of 222 runs, India A added 265 more runs, including two centuries, before the declaration. 

Opener Pratham Singh and the no.3 batter Tilak Varma hit centuries for India A on the third day. While Singh scored 122 runs off 189 balls with the help of 12 fours and one six, Varma remained not out on 111 runs off 193 balls with the help of nine fours. Riyan Parag scored 20 runs, and Shashwat Rawat was not out on 64 off 88 balls with seven fours as India A declared the innings on 380/3. 

In reply, India D ended the third day on 62/1. Although the opener Atharva Taide was dismissed for a duck by Khaleel Ahmed in the third over of the innings, another opener Yash Dubey (15*) remained not out with Ricky Bhui (44*). India D still needed 426 runs to win the match.