Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unwavering focus and resilience shone through on the third day of the Duleep Trophy second-round match, guiding India-B towards a respectable total. His unbeaten century, a testament to his commitment to attritional batting, brought his team closer to India-C’s score.
Easwaran’s 143 not out (262 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) was the backbone of India-B’s innings, ending the day on 309 for 7, still 216 runs behind India-C. His opening partner, Jagadeesan, fell to Anshul Kamboj on 70, a victim of a controversial caught-behind decision. Easwaran’s composure was further tested as his team’s middle order crumbled, with Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Rinku Singh, and Nitish Kumar Reddy all falling cheaply to Kamboj.
Kamboj’s impressive performance saw him bag a maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. He was the architect of India-C’s resurgence, capitalizing on India-B’s middle-order collapses.
However, Easwaran remained unyielding, showcasing his trademark resilience and focus. He reached his 24th first-class century off 178 balls, serving as an inspiration to his team. His innings was a display of unwavering determination, a testament to his ability to weather the storm and keep India-B in the game.
Despite the absence of Sandeep Warrier due to an injury, India-C continued their relentless pressure. Kamboj and Vijaykumar Vyshak toiled hard, sharing the pace-bowling workload. Vyshak eventually found a breakthrough, dismissing Washington Sundar caught at silly mid-on by Sudharsan.
As the day concluded, both India-C’s pacers and Easwaran appeared fatigued. However, Easwaran’s perseverance ensured that India-B remained in the contest, setting the stage for a crucial final day.
