India B’s Musheer Khan and Navdeep Saini created history by recording the highest eighth-wicket partnership in Duleep Trophy history, with a stand of 205 runs. This remarkable partnership took place during the first round of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The duo surpassed the previous record of 197 runs, set by Ramesh Powar and Abhishek Nayar in 2010, playing for West Zone against North Zone.
Musheer Khan, coming in at number three, held his wicket firmly as other batters struggled against the pacers of India A in challenging overcast conditions. Despite losing partners at the other end, Musheer remained steady and found a dependable ally in Navdeep Saini, who joined him in the 44th over when India B was at a precarious 94/7.
Together, Musheer and Saini batted patiently, playing 403 balls to reach their record-breaking 205-run partnership. Musheer displayed remarkable composure and skill in his debut innings in the Duleep Trophy, reaching a score of 181 before eventually being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav which is also Kuldeep’s sole wicket in the innings. His performance was the highlight of the day, as he surpassed the 150-run mark, ensuring India B’s recovery from a tough position.
Navdeep Saini, usually known for his bowling, also made a valuable contribution with his 56 runs in 144 deliveries. He scored his second first-class fifty, complementing Musheer’s heroics and helping to push India B to a strong total. Their partnership played a crucial role in turning the tide of the match.
