India A secured a dominant 186-run win against Shreyas Iyer’s India D, bouncing back from an earlier defeat to stay in contention for the top spot ahead of the final round of the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy.
Setting India D a daunting target of 488 runs, India A had to grind through 82 overs to secure the victory. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian were instrumental in their win, sharing seven wickets between them. Mulani’s all-round contribution—taking four wickets and scoring a crucial 89 in the first innings—earned him the Player of the Match award.
India D, resuming their chase at 62 for 1, saw Bhui anchor the innings with a determined 18th first-class century. However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to hold on. Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, both failing to make an impact in the first innings, managed to score 41 and 40, respectively.
Bhui, along with Yash Dubey, put together a 100-run stand for the second wicket, providing India D a solid foundation in their attempt to draw the game. But Dubey’s unfortunate run-out and Devdutt Padikkal’s quick dismissal by Mulani triggered a collapse.
Iyer and Samson batted aggressively, showing no intention of curbing their natural game, but Iyer's dismissal, bowled by Mulani, opened the door for Kotian to take over. The Mumbai off-spinner ripped through India D’s lower order, picking up four wickets to secure the win for India A in the final session.
Pratham Singh, the 32-year-old Railways batter, and Hyderabad's Tilak Varma were also standout performers for India A. Both scored centuries, setting up a declaration late on day three, which ultimately put the game out of reach for India D.