Axar Patel played a pivotal role for India D on a bowler-friendly opening day of the Duleep Trophy match against India C in Anantapur. After his team found themselves in a precarious position, Axar smashed a crucial 86 with the bat before making his mark with the ball by taking two vital wickets.
India C’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid immediate dividends, as Anshul Kamboj removed Atharva Taide in the very first over. Shreyas Iyer soon followed, unable to stabilise the innings, and Vijaykumar Vyshak tightened India C’s grip by sending both Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal back to the pavilion by the sixth over.
Yash Dubey also fell quickly, and India D suddenly found themselves teetering at 23 for 4. As the bowling changes worked wonders, Himanshu Chauhan chipped in with another wicket, and Axar walked to the crease with his side in deep trouble. With wickets falling regularly, Axar watched helplessly at first, but as India D slumped to 76 for 8, he took matters into his own hands.
Axar began by slapping consecutive boundaries off Chauhan, then targeted Manav Suthar, smashing two sixes and a four in one over to race past fifty. As Axar kept the scoreboard ticking, even Arshdeep Singh joined the fun, clearing the ropes once to add to the excitement. Axar, particularly aggressive against spin, took Hrithik Shokeen for back-to-back sixes before the spinner finally claimed his wicket. Axar departed for a well-earned 86 shortly after Arshdeep’s dismissal, leaving India D all out for 164.
Despite the modest total, India D’s bowlers struck back immediately. Harshit Rana dismissed both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan in consecutive overs to put India C under pressure. Although Aryan Juyal and Rajat Patidar briefly steadied the ship, Axar returned with the ball to make further inroads. He dismissed Juyal with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort and bowled Patidar in his next over, leaving India C reeling at 43 for 4.
However, India C found some stability through a crucial partnership between Abishek Porel and Baba Indrajith. While Indrajith played cautiously, Porel’s aggressive 32 not out kept the scoreboard moving, helping India C end the day 73 runs behind India D.
Brief Scores: India C 91/4 (Abishek Porel 32; Harshit Rana 2/13) trail India D 164 (Axar Patel 86; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/19) by 73 runs.