Cricket is more than just a sport in India—it’s an emotion that binds millions. The Duleep Trophy, a prestigious domestic tournament, showcases some of the best talents in Indian cricket, often serving as a stepping stone to the national team. One of the most exciting clashes in the 2024 edition was the first match between India B Cricket Team vs India a Match Scorecard, played at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru from September 5 to 8, 2024. This wasn’t just any game—it was a four-day battle of grit, skill, and strategy, with India B emerging victorious by 76 runs. Let’s dive into the match, explore the key moments, and break down the scorecard in a way that’s easy to understand for everyone, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a seasoned fan.
The Stage: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Picture this: a vibrant stadium in Bengaluru, buzzing with anticipation. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its batting-friendly pitches, was the perfect setting for this clash. The weather was sunny, with a touch of humidity, and the pitch promised runs but also offered something for the bowlers if they hit the right spots. India A, led by Shubman Gill, won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to exploit any early moisture in the pitch. It was a bold call, setting the tone for an intense contest.
India B’s First Innings: Musheer Khan Steals the Show
India B’s batting lineup was packed with talent, featuring stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and the promising Musheer Khan. The innings started cautiously, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran putting on 33 runs. Jaiswal looked in fine touch, scoring a fluent 30 off 59 balls before being dismissed by Khaleel Ahmed. Easwaran, the captain, fell for 13, caught by Dhruv Jurel off Avesh Khan.
Then came the star of the show: Musheer Khan. The young batter played an innings of remarkable maturity, anchoring India B’s innings with a stunning 181 runs off 373 balls. His knock included 16 fours and 5 sixes, showcasing both patience and aggression. Musheer’s ability to rotate the strike and punish loose deliveries kept India A’s bowlers on their toes. However, the middle order struggled. Sarfaraz Khan (9), Rishabh Pant (7), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (0) fell quickly, leaving India B at a shaky 80/5.
Just when it seemed India A had the upper hand, Musheer found an unlikely ally in Navdeep Saini, who played a gritty 56 off 144 balls. Their 219-run partnership for the eighth wicket was a game-changer, frustrating India A’s bowlers and pushing India B to a respectable 321 all out in 116 overs. Akash Deep was the pick of the bowlers for India A, taking 4 wickets for 60 runs, while Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan chipped in with two wickets each.
India A’s First Innings: A Rocky Response
Chasing 321, India A needed a solid start. Openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill looked promising, putting on 57 runs. Agarwal was aggressive, scoring 36 off 45 balls with 8 fours, but fell to Navdeep Saini. Gill, the captain, made 25 before Saini struck again. Riyan Parag (30) and KL Rahul (37) tried to stabilize the innings, but India A kept losing wickets at crucial moments.
The middle order crumbled under pressure. Dhruv Jurel (2), Shivam Dube (20), and Kuldeep Yadav (1) couldn’t convert their starts, and despite a fighting 32 from Tanush Kotian, India A were bowled out for 231 in 72.4 overs. Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini were the stars with the ball for India B, taking three wickets each, while Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore picked up two. India A trailed by 90 runs, giving India B a significant advantage.
India B’s Second Innings: Pant and Sarfaraz Fire
With a lead in hand, India B aimed to set a challenging target. However, their second innings started poorly. Yashasvi Jaiswal (9) and Musheer Khan (0) fell early, and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran managed only 4. At 22/3, India B were in trouble. Enter Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, who launched a counterattack. Sarfaraz smashed 46 off 36 balls, including 7 fours and a six, while Pant’s explosive 61 off 47 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) thrilled the crowd. Their 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket gave India B momentum.
The lower order, however, couldn’t build on this foundation. Nitish Kumar Reddy (19), Washington Sundar (9), and Navdeep Saini (13) chipped in, but Akash Deep’s fiery spell of 5 wickets for 56 runs ensured India B were bowled out for 184 in 42 overs. Khaleel Ahmed supported with 3 wickets, while Avesh Khan and Tanush Kotian took one each. India A now faced a target of 275 runs to win—a tough but achievable task on a batting-friendly pitch.
India A’s Second Innings: A Brave Chase Falls Short
Chasing 275, India A needed a strong start, but Mayank Agarwal’s early dismissal for 3 set them back. Riyan Parag played a blazing 31 off 18 balls, hitting 3 sixes, but his departure left India A at 51/2. Shubman Gill (21) and Dhruv Jurel (0) fell quickly, and when Tanush Kotian was dismissed for a duck, India A were reeling at 76/5.
KL Rahul anchored the innings with a composed 57 off 121 balls, giving India A hope. Shivam Dube (14) and Kuldeep Yadav (14) provided some resistance, but the real fight came from Akash Deep, who smashed a fearless 43 off 42 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes. His aggressive knock kept India A in the hunt, but a run-out ended his resistance, and India A were bowled out for 198 in 53 overs, falling 76 runs short. Yash Dayal (3/50), Mukesh Kumar (2/50), and Navdeep Saini (2/41) were the key bowlers for India B, with Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy taking one wicket each.
Key Performers and Turning Points
Musheer Khan was undoubtedly the match’s hero, earning the Player of the Match award for his marathon 181 in the first innings. His ability to bat for nearly 10 hours showed his temperament and skill, marking him as a future star. Akash Deep’s all-round performance—4 wickets in the first innings, 5 in the second, and a fighting 43 with the bat—made him a standout for India A. Rishabh Pant’s explosive 61 in the second innings was a reminder of his game-changing ability, while KL Rahul’s 57 showed his class, though it wasn’t enough to steer India A to victory.
The turning points were Musheer and Saini’s massive partnership in India B’s first innings and Akash Deep’s five-wicket haul in the second innings, which kept India A in the game. However, India A’s inability to build partnerships during their chase proved costly.
Why This Match Matters
The Duleep Trophy is a proving ground for India’s next generation of cricketers, and this match was no exception. Players like Musheer Khan, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal showcased their potential, while established stars like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul reminded everyone of their quality. For young fans, it’s a chance to see future Indian team players in action, and for older fans, it’s a nostalgic reminder of domestic cricket’s importance.
Full India B Cricket Team vs India a Match Scorecard
Below is the detailed scorecard of the match, presented in an easy-to-read table format.
|
Innings |
Team |
Score |
Overs |
Key Performers |
Fall of Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
India B 1st Innings |
321/10 |
116 overs |
Musheer Khan 181 (373), Navdeep Saini 56 (144) |
1-33 (Easwaran, 12.6), 2-53 (Jaiswal, 21.1), 3-67 (Sarfaraz, 32.1), 4-80 (Pant, 35.2), 5-80 (Reddy, 35.3), 6-89 (Sundar, 39.5), 7-94 (Sai Kishore, 43.5), 8-299 (Musheer, 110.4), 9-320 (Dayal, 113.5), 10-321 (Saini, 115.6) |
|
|
Bowling (India A) |
Akash Deep 4/60 (27 overs), Khaleel Ahmed 2/54 (23 overs), Avesh Khan 2/59 (22 overs) |
||||
|
India A 1st Innings |
231/10 |
72.4 overs |
Mayank Agarwal 36 (45), KL Rahul 37 (111), Tanush Kotian 32 (71) |
1-57 (Gill, 13.6), 2-66 (Agarwal, 15.2), 3-145 (Parag, 38.6), 4-151 (Jurel, 41.6), 5-169 (Rahul, 48.1), 6-199 (Dube, 55.2), 7-201 (Kuldeep, 57.5), 8-224 (Kotian, 70.2), 9-230 (Deep, 71.3), 10-231 (Ahmed, 72.4) |
|
|
Bowling (India B) |
Mukesh Kumar 3/62 (19 overs), Navdeep Saini 3/60 (16 overs), Sai Kishore 2/10 (6.4 overs) |
||||
|
India B 2nd Innings |
184/10 |
42 overs |
Rishabh Pant 61 (47), Sarfaraz Khan 46 (36) |
1-13 (Jaiswal, 4.2), 2-14 (Musheer, 5.6), 3-22 (Easwaran, 7.6), 4-94 (Sarfaraz, 17.1), 5-140 (Pant, 24.5), 6-150 (Reddy, 31.3), 7-151 (Sai Kishore, 34.4), 8-160 (Sundar, 38.3), 9-176 (Saini, 40.5), 10-184 (Dayal, 41.6) |
|
|
Bowling (India A) |
Akash Deep 5/56 (14 overs), Khaleel Ahmed 3/69 (15 overs), Tanush Kotian 1/10 (3 overs) |
||||
|
India A 2nd Innings |
198/10 |
53 overs |
KL Rahul 57 (121), Akash Deep 43 (42), Riyan Parag 31 (18) |
1-7 (Agarwal, 1.2), 2-51 (Parag, 7.1), 3-75 (Gill, 12.6), 4-76 (Jurel, 13.5), 5-76 (Kotian, 15.1), 6-99 (Dube, 22.5), 7-141 (Rahul, 39.5), 8-170 (Kuldeep, 47.2), 9-183 (Avesh, 50.4), 10-198 (Deep, 52.6) |
|
|
Bowling (India B) |
Yash Dayal 3/50 (12 overs), Mukesh Kumar 2/50 (10 overs), Navdeep Saini 2/41 (12 overs) |
Match Details:
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Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
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Date: September 5–8, 2024
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Toss: India A, elected to bowl
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Player of the Match: Musheer Khan (India B)
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Result: India B won by 76 runs
What Made This Match Special?
This match was a rollercoaster of emotions. For young fans, it was a chance to see players like Musheer Khan, who could one day represent India on the global stage. For older fans, it was a reminder of the depth of talent in Indian cricket. The game had everything—big partnerships, collapses, fiery bowling, and explosive batting. It showed why domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy are so important for nurturing talent and keeping Indian cricket strong.
Looking Ahead
The Duleep Trophy 2024 is just the beginning. Players like Musheer Khan, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal have staked their claims for higher honors. For India A, it’s a chance to regroup and come back stronger in their next match. For fans, it’s a reminder that cricket in India is alive and thriving, with new heroes emerging every day.
