Duleep Trophy: Gaikwad resumes batting after retiring hurt, scores 46*

Many feared the worst when Ruturaj Gaikwad walked off the field retired hurt after facing just two balls in the clash between India C and India B in Anantapur, but the India C skipper quashed all injury concerns to return at the end of Day 1 and post an unbeaten 46.

Gaikwad, who left the field after just two balls in the game due to a reported ankle sprain, walked in at No.5 post the dismissal of Ishan Kishan, who, on the day, smashed his maiden Duleep Trophy ton.

He then added 25 runs for the fourth wicket with Baba Indrajith before adding 34 runs with Abishek Porel for the fifth wicket. The 34-run partnership with Porel came off just 27 balls and Gaikwad was the aggressor in the stand, scoring 21 off just 13 balls.

Gaikwad ended the day unbeaten on 46, with a whopping 40 of the runs coming in boundaries (7 fours and 2 sixes). 

When he resumes on Day 2, Gaikwad will be eyeing his maiden Duleep Trophy 50. He came close to breaking the duck in the second innings of the clash against India D but fell for 46, four shy of his fifty. 

At stumps on Day 1, India C were 357/5, with Gaikwad (46*) and Manav Suthar (8*) at the crease. Kishan (111) and Indrajith (78) helped the side dominate Day 1. 

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