India B made a strong statement in the opening round of the Duleep Trophy 2024, securing a comfortable six-point victory over India A at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match was decided by India B’s dominant bowling performance in the first innings, which restricted India A to a paltry total.
Chasing a target of 275 runs, India A faced an uphill battle from the start. Despite a valiant effort from KL Rahul, who scored 57 runs, and Kuldeep Yadav, who provided some late resistance with 14 runs off 56 balls, India A ultimately fell short, getting bundled out for 198 runs. The match was effectively sealed in the third session of the final day, with Yash Dayal claiming three wickets for 50 runs and Mukesh Kumar securing the crucial wicket of KL Rahul right after the tea break.
Despite a late flourish from Akash Deep, who hit some big shots, India B finished the game with an hour to spare, cementing their dominance in the opening encounter. The victory highlights the strength of India B’s bowling attack, particularly Musheer Khan, who played a pivotal role in setting the foundation for the win.
