I was calculative with my strokes depending on the bowler and the field: Indrajith

Tamil Nadu batsman, Baba Indrajith was very happy with his hundred which he scored batting through a situation where he had just one partner left. Indrajith scored an unbeaten 120 at stumps on Day 1 for India Red in their Duleep Trophy game against India Blue and took his team’s total to 291/9 with an unbeaten 86-run stand with Vijay Gohil for the 10th wicket.

Indrajith walked out to bat after his team lost three wickets for 91 runs. India Red collapsed to 159/7 with the bowling all-rounders, Karn Sharma and CV Milind also back in the hut. But the 23-year-old carried on with the support he received from the other end which helped him get to the three digit score. Indrajith says that the confidence he showed in the last set of batsmen helped him and the team add invaluable runs to the total.

On the second day, he brought up his maiden first-class double century and extended the partnership to 178 for the final with Vijay Gohil to take the team total to 383. Baba Aparajith’s twin brother struck 20 fours and six sixes during his 200-run knock which came off 280 balls. The 10th wicket stand they put up is the highest in the Duleep Trophy history and the 2nd highest in Indian first-class cricket behind 233 between AK Sharma and Maninder Singh in 1991/92 for Delhi at Wankhede.

“I had confidence in the last three batsmen. Basil Thampi and Vijay Gohil gave excellent support,” said Baba Indrajith after day 1. “I had confidence in them as I knew they can bat. Initially I shielded them a bit, but seeing that their defence was good, I was calculative with my strokes depending on the bowler and the field,” Indrajith was quoted as saying by Sportstarlive.

The 23-year-old gave credit to the coaches S. Balaji and Madana Gopal as their assistance helped him start the season with a remarkable knock. The right-hander added that playing under the floodlights makes things a lot easier despite with reading the pink ball being the only obstacle.