Prasidh Krishna’s fiery bowling spell proved to be the decisive factor in India-A’s triumphant victory over India-C in the Duleep Trophy final. The match, held at the Rural Development Trust Stadium, saw India-A secure a well-deserved win late into the final hour.
India-A coach, Sunil Joshi, beamed with pride as he spoke of Krishna’s exceptional performance, particularly considering it was only his second game after a lengthy injury-induced break. “I am incredibly pleased to see him back in form and back in the reckoning. He bowled at great pace, consistently clocking speeds in the 140s,” Joshi told Sportstar.
Joshi was also enthusiastic about the sporting nature of the Duleep Trophy final. “This wicket was one of the best I’ve encountered in India,” he stated. “It provided a good challenge for both bowlers and batters, which is always a positive.” He also highlighted the enthusiastic crowd that turned out in large numbers every day, praising the initiative to bring the game to smaller cities and towns. “It’s crucial to take the game to places like this,” Joshi emphasized. “Seeing Test and IPL players in action might inspire some local kids to pick up cricket.”
Joshi also showered praise on Shashwat Rawat, one of the tournament’s standout performers. The left-hander topped the batting average with a commendable 85.33, showcasing a solid defense and attractive strokeplay. “I had been following his numbers in the Ranji Trophy, as I closely monitor domestic players,” Joshi revealed. “He is a compact and elegant player. And I believe the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have done an excellent job in choosing the teams for the Duleep Trophy.”
Reflecting on the final, Joshi believed his team displayed textbook red-ball cricket. “Captain Mayank Agarwal led the team well,” he said. “Our spinners Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian bowled effectively, and I thought Sai Sudharsan played a magnificent innings for India-C.”
