Deodhar Trophy 2019-20, final: India B v India C – Preview, prediction, likely XIs

India B and India C faced off for the last league match of the 2019-20 Deodhar Trophy. Both sides had thrashed India A comprehensively to qualify for the final, which provided them with opportunities to test their reserve bench. As things turned out, Virat Singh – left out in the first league match – played a key role as India C beat India B by 136 runs.

To be fair, India B had started off well on a slow wicket. Shahbaz Nadeem (9-2-37-2) and Nitish Rana (10-0-30-1) reduced India C to 126/5 by the 32nd over. Mayank Agarwal, who had scored a hundred in the first match, was rested, while Shubman Gill, the other centurion, fell for 1.

But then Axar Patel (98* in 61) walked out ahead of Jalaj Saxena to turn the match on its head. Virat stayed put at the other end, finishing on a 96-ball 76 not out.

India B reached 74/1 in the 18th over in response before being derailed by Mayank Markande (10-0-25-4) and Saxena (8-0-25-2). With a 90-ball 53 to follow his hundred, Baba Aparajith was the only one to provide some resistance.

There is little doubt that India C are favourites, but then, India B have put up one excellent performance in the tournament.

Key players

Baba Aparajith (India B): With a breezy 101 and a resolute 53, Aparajith has demonstrated his class in both matches. It is time now to raise his game that extra bit to provide a decisive effort.

Shubman Gill (India C): Gill travelled with the Indian Test side without getting a cap. He has already got a hundred in the tournament: another big innings here will definitely do his cause a world of good.

Likely XI

India B: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Baba Aparajith, Kedar Jadhav, Nitish Rana, Vijay Shankar, Parthiv Patel (c & wk), Shahbaz Nadeem, Anukul Roy, Roosh Kalaria, Mohammed Siraj.

India C: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Jalaj Saxena, Mayank Markande, Diwesh Pathania, Axar Patel, Ishan Porel, Anmolpreet Singh.

Prediction

The teams are evenly matched. India C perhaps hold a slight edge.