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Manav Suthar demonstrated his all-around abilities as India C amassed a massive first innings total at Anantapur on a day when the batsmen controlled the score. India B made a strong comeback, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and N Jagadeesan, their new opening combination, hitting undefeated half-centuries by stumping.
After Ishan Kishan’s century on Thursday, Suthar improved on it with a match-winning seven-for in India C’s Duleep Trophy 2024–25 opening game. Suthar resumed on 8 and reached his fourth first-class half-century, but he was 14 runs short of his all-time high of 96 not out.
After resuming at 357 for 5, India C completed with 525 with him as the final batter out. Aside from Kishan and Suthar, there were also half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Indrajith. The Haryana all-rounder Anshul Kamboj added to their total with a brisk 27-ball 38 during his 56-run partnership with Suthar.
Rahul Chahar, Suthar’s colleague from Rajasthan, was one of the top bowlers for India B, finishing with four wickets for 73. Mukesh Kumar, who had Gaikwad bowled first thing in the morning, also finished with four wickets for.
Abhimanyu would be relieved to have made some progress after being easily dismissed last week when trying to drive at the Chinnaswamy. He smashed seven fours off 145 balls faced, and he will attempt to reach his 24th first-class century when play resumes on day three.
The game time for Jagadeesan, who replaced Rishabh Pant, couldn’t have come at a better moment as he looks to revive a stellar career that seemed to be at a crossroads not so long ago.