Duleep Trophy 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad's big power over Shreyas Iyer's team, India C won the match by 4 wickets

While left-arm spinner Manav Suthar converted the five-wicket haul into seven wickets, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Aryan Juyal along Rajat Patidar played significant knocks, guiding India C to a four-wicket victory over India D in the first round match of the Duleep Trophy at the Gramin Vikas Trust Stadium here on Saturday. India D started playing on Saturday morning at 206/8. But they could add no more than 30 runs to the aggregate as Suthar removed Axar Patel for 28 and then cleaned up Aditya Thakare to return with commendable figures of 7-49 in 19.1 overs, including seven maiden overs, to give India C a modest target of 233 for victory. Suthar received the Player of the Match award.

Chasing the target, India C got off to a flying start with Gaikwad and Sai Sudarshan hitting back-to-back boundaries off Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to raise their half-century mark in just 6.3 overs. The two finally raised a 64-run opening stand before left-handed Sudarshan was caught by Ricky Bhui off offspinner Saransh Jain. Four overs later, Saransh came back to have Gaikwad caught by Shreyas Iyer and removed for 46. Juyal and Patidar stitched together in a partnership studded with ten boundaries to take India C back in the hunt for the target. However, Saransh came back to stump Patidar while Juyal was caught in the deep off Arshdeep.

After Baba Indrajit and Hrithik Shokeen fell cheaply, India C was reduced to 198/6 and needed 35 runs to win with four wickets in hand. Abhishek Porel (35 not out) and Suthar (19 not out) held their nerve and chased down the target in 61 overs to wrap up the match in three days. With six points, India C will now take on India B in the second round on September 12 at Anantapur.