The victory was built on a significant third-wicket partnership between Dravid and Dhruv Krishnan, who combined for 204 runs to keep the chase on track. Following the departure of Krishnan in the 38th over, Dravid continued his momentum, adding a further 61 runs alongside Aniketh Reddy. Although Dravid eventually fell in the 44th over, the foundation he laid allowed Aniketh Reddy and Tejas Reddy to steer the team to a comfortable conclusion.
Gujarat’s strong total overshadowed by Karnataka’s response
Gujarat’s innings had been defined by a massive 217-run fifth-wicket stand between Sameer Bhandari and Yash Panjwani, which propelled them to a formidable total of 357. Despite an early wobble that saw them lose their first wicket at 19, Gujarat had recovered through steady contributions from Shaurya Pancholi and Ved Patel, followed by the late-innings surge from Bhandari and Panjwani. However, the bowling attack could not contain the Karnataka middle order, which remained composed throughout the high-pressure chase.
Dravid’s performance continues a strong run of form in the tournament, following his impressive 85 off 41 balls in a previous match against Delhi. The young leader, who made his India U19 debut against Afghanistan last November, is currently heading a 16-member squad in the competition.
Aaryavir Sehwag shines in Delhi’s narrow defeat
In a separate fixture, Aaryavir Sehwag also produced a standout individual performance, scoring 173 off 143 balls for Delhi. Despite his dominant display, which helped his side post 289/6, Delhi was unable to defend the total. Chandigarh successfully chased down the target in the 42nd over, driven by a spectacular 167 off 125 balls from Rupesh Yadav, who struck 23 boundaries and five sixes.
Aaryavir, the 18-year-old son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, is currently leading the Delhi side following his recent India U19 debut against Australia in Rajkot. While his individual effort was the highlight of the match, it ultimately resulted in a five-wicket loss for his team as Chandigarh’s batting lineup proved too efficient in the closing stages.
