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The Duleep Trophy witnessed a captivating display of batting prowess on Day 1 as India C secured a commanding lead against India B. The match, being held at the Rural Development Trust stadium B-ground, marked a historic moment as the first-ever first-class match played on the ground. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Ishan Kishan's blistering century, a feat that added further significance to this inaugural match.
Kishan, who was not initially part of the India C squad, arrived as a late addition and made his presence felt with a scintillating 111 runs off 126 balls. His innings was characterized by a blend of power and elegance, punctuated by 14 boundaries and 3 sixes. Notably, Kishan's innings was not without its challenges as he faced a barrage of short balls from the India B bowlers. He was dropped twice in quick succession when he was in his thirties, first by Nitish Kumar Reddy off Navdeep Saini and then by Mukesh Kumar off Nitish himself. Despite these setbacks, Kishan remained unfazed and continued his aggressive approach.
Kishan's hundred, a testament to his resilience and determination, came with a straight four off Sai Kishore. His dismissal came in the next over, bowled by Mukesh Kumar, after a pull for six to the square leg boundary. Despite his dismissal, Kishan laid the foundation for India C's dominance, amassing 189 runs with Baba Indrajith, who contributed a steady 78 runs off 136 balls. Indrajith also played a pivotal role in India C's innings, holding one end together and allowing Kishan to flourish. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the India C captain, unfortunately retired hurt after being struck on the ankle while running. However, he returned after Kishan's dismissal and continued the flamboyant stroke-making, showcasing the depth of India C's batting line-up.
Source: Duleep Trophy: Ishan Kishan century helps India C get dominant start against India B on day one