Duleep Trophy Highlights, Round 2 Day 2: Easwaran, Jagadeesan build stand for IND B; Mayank-Pratham fifties power IND A

Shreyas Iyer comes to roll his arm over and guess what! He's picked up a wicket first ball as Mayank Agarwal chips the ball straight back to him. A first wicket for Iyer in FC cricket since 2018-19 and fifth overall. Unlucky for Agarwal as India A finish on 115/1 with a 222-run lead after Day 2.

A massive break for Mayank Agarwal as Saurabh Kumar straightens one from the leg-stump past the attempted flick an onto the stumps. The umpire is unmoved and the referral shows Umpire's Call on wickets. Close! And Mayank almost immediately brings up his FIFTY by stepping down to the spinner.

N Jagadeesan brings up his half-century in his first innings this tournament. India B are putting on a solid response here with Easwaran absorbing pressure at the other end. IND B 99/0 in 30 overs

Mayank Agarwal and Pratham Singh have negotiated the early new-ball seam attack from India D. An early  introduction of spin through Saurabh Kumar but Agarwal deftly slices him behind point for FOUR.

Jagadeesan and Easwaran have briskly led India B past 50 within 15 overs. Jagadeesan is known to take down attacks quickly when set and India B will need exactly that in this innings here.

Abhimanyu Easwaran and N Jagadeesan bat India B safely to tea, adding 33 runs in 11 overs. 

Devdutt Padikkal and Harshit Rana have instilled some pride in India D's batting but they have nevertheless conceded a hefty 107-run first-innings lead to India A. Much work to be done for the seamers to offer a chance to make a comeback in this game.

A century not to be for Devdutt Padikkal. Prasidh Krishna troubles Padikkal throughout the over and finally induces the outside-edge to the keeper. It's a sharp outside-edge and the left-hander misses out on a well deserved ton. IND 154/8 in 48 overs

Abhimanyu Easwaran and N Jagadeesan open India B's response to a tall score from India C. Apparently, seamer Sandeep Warrier has injured himself and walked off the field.

Saurabh Kumar has fallen to Aaqib Khan but Devdutt Padikkal continues to stand tall as he flicks and drives Aaqib for successive fours, inching closer to a hundred.

Tanush Kotian strikes for India A. He sends one in flat and the ball keeps low to beat Saransh Jain's bat and thud the pad. Nothing the batter could have done there to save his wicket. IND D 122/6 in 40.5 overs

Manav Suthar falls on 82 as Rahul Chahar snaps up his fourth wicket. India C's gigantic innings ends on 525.

Khaleel comes around the wicket and nips the ball into Ricky Bhui's pad. Late movement but the umpire has denied the appeal. India A appeal and that is three reds on DRS! India D lose their fifth wicket. IND D 96/5 in 30 overs

Back for the second session and Padikkal has gotten off the blocks with another sumptuous boundary on the off-side. He is looking in his element and would want to make it big from here.

At Lunch:

India C 483/8 (112) v IND B - Manav Suthar 56*, V Vyshak 9*

India D 86/4 (27) v IND A 290 - Devdutt Padikkal 40*, Ricky Bhui 22*

Manav Suthar continues to impress. Strikes his fourth First-Class and first in the Duleep Trophy in his second outing, improving on his heroics from the previous round.

Ricky Bhui has replaced Sanju Samson and has taken an early liking to Shams Mulani. He steps out and swats the left-arm spinner with a one-handed slog over long-on for SIX.

Samson's flash and bang finishes early as he mistimes the pull against the short ball from Aaqib Khan. A needless stroke in the circumstances and Samson throws it away. 

Sanju Samson 5(6) ct M Prasidh b Aaqib Khan

Aaqib Khan strikes. He cramps up Yash Dubey with a fine bumper and produces the faint outside-edge. In walks Sanju Samson at No. 5. IND D 44/3

Manav Suthar is moving towards a half-century for India C as they continue to deflate the B bowlers. IND C 420/7 in 98

Devdutt Padikkal has already played a couple of exquisite strokes off looseners from Khaleel Ahmed on the off-side. The left-hander must make it big for India A to cut down the large deficit.

Mukesh Kumar cleans up Ruturaj Gaikwad, shortly after his fifty. He falls on 58 as India C nudge closer to 400. 

A seven-ball duck for Shreyas Iyer. Khaleel Ahmed swings the ball into the pads and Iyer chips it straight to the mid-on fielder. Massive blow for India D. IND D 10/2

Khaleel Ahmed strikes in the first over. The ball jags sharply from length as Taide shoulders arms when the ball hits the pad. That's plumb and India A strike early.

Atharva Taide 4(3) lbw S K K Ahmed

Now, India A have done exceedingly well to get to 290 after their top-order wobble. India D have a task on their hands now as Yash Dubey and Atharva Taide walk out to open.

Harshit Rana produces the thick outside-edge from Shams Mulani from around the stumps to second slip. He agonizingly misses out on his maiden ton. Harshit cleans up Aaqib Khan and bundles India A for 290. Harshit will start on a hat-trick in the second innings. 

Fifty for Ruturaj Gaikwad as he puts his injury from the previous morning behind him. He needs to convert this now to a big one. India C are zooming towards 400 now. 

Harshit Rana opens proceedings for India D as Mulani and Khaleel return to the crease.

Pitch Report: The pitch was lively yesterday. The grass is the same as day 1. Low bounce might be a concern today. The footmarks have started to form and it will help the spinners. The pacers have to operate between 4-6 meters and that will trouble the batters. It is a good batting pitch and if the batters apply themselves then there are a lot of runs, say WV Raman and Chetan Sharma.

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand becomes the first abandoned Test in India due to rain. READ MORE

Tanush Kotian played some valuable knocks for Mumbai late in the order last Ranji season. On Thursday, he ensured that there is definitely some skill in the tank and last year was not a one-off aberration. With more such knocks and a bagful of wickets, Kotian can soon begin to make a case for a Test call-up. 

After India D seamers Vidwath Kaverappa, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh ran through the top order, Mumbai boys Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian rescued India A in the second round Duleep Trophy fixture at Anantapur.

The pitch, with a tinge of grass on it, played almost similar to the one for the first game at the venue as the seamers found good purchase off it. But Mulani’s fighting unbeaten knock of 88 pulled India A out of the hole at 93/5 as they ended Day 1 with 288/8 on board. READ MORE

Riyan Parag was almost in otherworldly mode when he cracked a thunderous six over long-off for SIX. Parag was tasked with another rescue act but his wont to play one shot too many eventually ended with a tame dismissal against the run of play. He now has three thirties to his name in as many knocks in the tournament, failing to live up to the promise.

It was an eventful day in Anantapur where comeback man Ishan Kishan unfurled a belligerent counter to put India C on top of India B. Kishan's seamless 111 was a strong statement upon his First-Class return, registering his first century since December 2022. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad has returned from his early ankle injury on Day 1 and has quickly waltzed towards the half-century mark, following a patient fifty from Baba Indrajith.

In the other game, Shams Mulani has made a superb return to the fold with a knock replete of classic stroke-making across the field. Mulani has weathered a storm after India A had slumped to 93/5 in the opening session. The Mumbai all-rounder is closing in on his maiden First-Class century.