Following his return from injury, Tilak Varma made a grand performance for the Indian cricket team with a sensational century in the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India D at the Rural Development Trust Stadium, Anantapur. On Saturday, Varma did not damage his ambitions of staying visible in India’s scheme of things with an unbeaten 111 off 193 balls as India A declared their second innings closed at 380 for three. After racing towards his century, Varma removed his helmet to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. However, it was his teammate Avesh Khan’s celebration that went viral.
Cameras captured Avesh in the stands doing some fun dance moves as he celebrated Varma's century.
Tilak Varma brings up his
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Varma and Pratham scored unchallenged hundreds to take India A into a commanding position against India D after the third day of their Duleep Trophy match on Saturday. While Varma scored 111 not out, Pratham made an impressive 122 as India A declared their second innings at 380 for three.
This gave them an overall lead of 487, and India D managed to add 62 of the target of 488 with the loss of Atharva Taide.
Ricky Bhui (44) and Yash Dubey (15) were at the crease for India D.
Pratham, who resumed his game after last night's 59, continued to play with fluency and reached his 100 in 149 balls in the first session.
But the 32-year-old Railways batsman fell to left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar near the end of the opening session. Pratham added 104 runs for the second wicket with Varma.
However, Varma, once tipped by Rohit Sharma as India's next all-format player, held firm and remained unbeaten on 60, having brought up a fifty a little earlier off 96 balls. India A went to lunch on a solid 260 for two after starting the day on 115 for one.
But soon after the resumption, India A lost Riyan Parag for 20 but Varma found an equally determined partner in Shashwat Rawat (64 not out, 88 balls, 7×4).
The fourth-wicket pair added 116 runs without parting, giving India complete control of the proceedings.
Varma brought up his fifth first-class century with a late cut to the third-man region off off-spinner Saransh Jain that brought two runs to the left-hander. His century came off 177 balls.
India A went into the tea break at 370 for three and then batted for around 15 minutes into the final session before declaring the innings closed.
Although India D lost opener Taide in the third over to pacer Khaleel Ahmed, Dubey and Bhui assured that their team will reach the final day unscathed.
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