Duleep Trophy: Arshdeep Singh picks 9-wicket match haul to flaunt red-ball skills

Arshdeep Singh's career-best 6 for 40 and Ricky Bhui's unbeaten century led India D to a resounding 257-run victory over India B in the Duleep Trophy. Despite Nitish Kumar Reddy's resistance, India B crumbled in their final innings chase.

In Short

• Arshdeep Singh shines with a career-best 6 for 40, sealing India D's dominant victory
• Ricky Bhui scores an unbeaten 119, guiding India D to a strong second-innings total
• India B crumbles to 115 as Arshdeep and Aditya Thakare take all ten wickets

Arshdeep Singh's career-best figures of 6 for 40 powered India D to a commanding 257-run victory over India B in the final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 in Anantapur. India B, set a stiff target of 373 in just over two sessions, were bowled out for 115 in just 22.2 overs. Arshdeep, along with Vidarbha pacer Aditya Thakare, who took 4 for 59, accounted for all ten wickets, sealing the win for India D. Arshdeep's nine-wicket match haul (9 for 90) was the highlight, including the crucial dismissals of Suryakumar Yadav, who managed just 5 and 16 in his first first-class appearance in over a year.

This was only Arshdeep's second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, but it proved decisive in ensuring a consolation win for India D in the tournament. India B's batting crumbled under pressure, with allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy being the lone fighter. He remained unbeaten on 40, but it wasn't enough as Arshdeep fittingly claimed the final wicket to finish off the match before tea on the fourth day.

Arshdeep impresses with 6-wicket haul

Though Arshdeep played a pivotal role with the ball, the Player of the Match award went to India D's Ricky Bhui for his impressive contributions with the bat. Bhui top-scored with an unbeaten 119 in the second innings, adding to his 56 from the first innings. Bhui's century, his 20th in first-class cricket, was crucial in lifting India D from 18 for 3, ensuring they set a challenging target for India B.

India D ended their second innings on 303, adding 59 to their overnight total of 244 for 5. Despite being without spin-bowling allrounder Saransh Jain due to injury, Bhui and Shreyas Iyer, who scored a quickfire 50 off 40 balls, guided their team to a solid position.

India B's hopes of chasing the target depended on a strong start, but their top order faltered early, losing three wickets inside eight overs. Opener Musheer Khan, who had shown promise earlier in the tournament with a resilient 181, was dismissed for a second duck in four innings, capping off a disappointing finish.

India B crumbles in chase

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had a quiet tournament with the bat, found some form in the final innings but couldn't turn the tide for his team. He also picked up two wickets with the ball earlier in the competition, showing his ability to bowl long spells.

For India D, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar had a productive outing as well, with his five-wicket haul in the first innings giving his side a crucial 67-run lead. Sanju Samson also contributed with a century in the first innings and a quick cameo in the second, adding to India D's dominance.

Despite the loss, India B's Abhimanyu Easwaran was a bright spot, having bounced back from early setbacks to score twin hundreds in the tournament. However, the defeat ended India B's chances of winning the Duleep Trophy, with India A poised to secure the title.