India B 218 for 3 (Agarwal 124, Gill 42) defeated India A 216 (Rayudu 48, Gowtham 35, Prasidh 4-50) by seven wickets
Despite the official nature of this List A match, there was a feeling that the outcome was merely for academic purposes. It was essentially a clash between 22 cricketers selected by Rahul Dravid, the India A coach, and the national selectors in two distinct Indian teams for the Quadrangular series.
While a position in the final was still up for grabs, it was more about observing how a group of cricketers, who spend a significant amount of time together throughout the year, including playing and competing in the IPL, facing each other in practice, and being well-acquainted with each other’s playing style, approach the game in a real match situation. India B clinched their second consecutive victory by seven wickets.
Perhaps unfortunate not to be included in the Test squad for the last two Tests in England despite a remarkable English summer with India A – he emerged as the top scorer with 442 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 88.40 in a successful tri-series campaign – he demonstrated resilience and composure against a high-quality fast-bowling attack comprising of Deepak Chahar, Mohammad Siraj, and Khaleel Ahmed. He seemed to have set aside his disappointment for not being selected, and his 114-ball 124 propelled India B towards their target of 218, which they achieved with 53 balls to spare.
Agarwal persevered through the discomfort of batting with a heavily taped left webbing, sustained while attempting a catch in the slips during the 12th over of India A’s innings. He spent a couple of hours off the field but returned towards the end of India A’s innings. However, with bat in hand – he could open because it was an external injury – he appeared as confident as ever, accumulating boundaries in the Powerplay and displaying control for an extended period at the crease.
The highlight came as he reached the 40s and struck back-to-back sixes off K Gowtham – both over deep midwicket with the spin – to achieve his half-century. Subsequently, he refocused and concentrated, seemingly determined to convert his start into his 12th List A century and his fourth in his last seven innings in that format.
As he approached the century mark, he became more daring. He played and missed two consecutive deliveries and engaged in banter with Siraj. It was clear that the crowd favored local lad Agarwal and encouraged him, chanting “hodi maga, hodi (hit him, son, hit him<)”. Agarwal responded by stepping out and hitting two length balls over extra-cover to surge into the 90s, and then reached his century with a pulled four. When he got out pulling with India B requiring 14 runs, he had smashed 14 fours and three sixes.
In England, he often played the role of an aggressor, arriving with a strong platform to accelerate. On this occasion, he came in at No. 3 in a chase of a moderate target after Ishan Kishan’s early dismissal, recognizing that there was no need to be excessively aggressive. He eschewed the lofted hits and other risky shots, instead showcasing his quick footwork and emphatic drives as he contributed 42 in a 97-run partnership with Agarwal. Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav completed the chase in the 42nd over.
After setting him up with two deliveries of a good length that angled in and held their line – Iyer edged both towards the slips – Prasidh removed the cover fielder. Iyer attempted a drive off the next ball, which jagged back in from a good length, evaded the inside edge, and trapped him lbw.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
