Mayank Agarwal’s India A claimed the Duleep Trophy 2024 title in a nail-biting finish, defeating Ruturaj Gaikwad’s India C on Sunday, September 22. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna played a pivotal role, taking 3 crucial wickets in the final session to secure the win.
India A, needing 7 wickets in the last session of Day 4 at Anantapur, relied on Prasidh’s brilliance to halt India C’s chase. He dismissed centurion Sai Sudharsan, who had been leading India C's resistance, followed by the quick wickets of Anshul Kamboj and Baba Indrajith, ensuring a 132-run victory just minutes before the close of play.
Off-spinner Tanush Kotiyan also made significant contributions, taking the key wickets of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Porel, who had both been in fine form throughout the tournament. Apart from Sudharsan’s impressive 111 and Gaikwad’s 44, no other India C player made a substantial impact in the second innings.
Sudharsan’s dismissal was the turning point, as he looked solid during his defiant century, his first in the Duleep Trophy. His wicket came off the final ball of the 77th over when he top-edged a short delivery from Prasidh, with Kotiyan completing a crucial catch at deep square leg. Sudharsan’s frustration was evident as he left the field after his dismissal.
Earlier in the match, Riyan Parag and Shashwat Rawat’s fifties in the second innings helped extend India A’s lead. Rawat had already made a mark with a century (124) in the first innings, propelling India A to a total of 297. In response, India C fell short of the target, with Gaikwad managing only 17 runs.
India A had a strong showing throughout the tournament, overcoming a first-match loss to India B, and bouncing back with a dominant win over India D. They finished on top with 12 points, ahead of India C’s 9. India B and India D took the third and fourth spots with 7 and 6 points, respectively.