For once, Gautam Gambhir and Mayank Agarwal could not get to a 100-run stand, but India Blue still have the Duleep Trophy within touching distance as they stretched their second-innings lead to 476 at the end of a rain-affected day four. At the close of play, India Blue were 139/3. Only 33 overs were bowled in the day as the poor drainage system in the Greater Noida stadium delayed the start of play by atl east a session.
Agarwal (52) and Gambhir (36) got off to a good start, building a 67-run opening stand before departing during the pursuit of quick runs. For India Red, Kuldeep Yadav (2/47) used the damp surface to his advantage, getting prodigious turn and effecting the wickets of the India Blue openers.
Agarwal and Gambhir stuck to their tried and tested template of carefully negotiating the bowlers early on. Here, it seemed like the right thing to do, just to ensure that there were no demons on the wicket. Soon enough, they opened their arms and spanked a few handsome drives to the fence.
Agarwal was aggressive against the spinners and took on Yadav when he came on. Just when Gambhir settled in, Yadav had him leg-before. After being dismissed from a poor shot in the first innings, Rohit Sharma put defence before attack after coming in at No. 3, letting Agarwal take charge of the boundary-hitting.
Moments after completing his half-century, the prolific India Blue opener took on Yadav from outside off, and tried to clear the ropes on the leg side. Nathu Singh at deep square-leg took a safe catch. Karthik played one of his stranger innings in recent times, playing a series of hurried shots. After scoring three boundaries during his short-lived stay at the crease, Karthik was stumped by Ankush Bains as he tried to clear Amit Mishra over the ropes.
There was still no sign of Cheteshwar Pujara as Ravindra Jadeja was sent in at No. 5. Perhaps, the former had done enough to cement his place in the first India-New Zealand Test after smashing a double century in the first innings. The under-fire Sharma came out of his shell in the penultimate over of the day's play, stepping out and heaving Yadav over long-off for a six. Jadeja was unbeaten on three when stumps was called.
The rain had subsided many hours before the start of play but sub-standard drainage systems made it impossible for an early start. A declaration by Gambhir is on the cards early on day five.
Brief scores:
India Blue 693/6 declared (Cheteshwar Pujara 256 not out, Sheldon Jackson 134, Gautam Gambhir 94; Amit Mirsha 2/171) and 139/3 (Mayank Agarwal 52, Gautam Gambhir 36; Kuldeep Yadav 2/47) lead India Red 356 (Stuart Binny 98, Amit Mishra 65, Gurkeerat Singh 57; Ravindra Jadeja 5/98, Pankaj Singh 2/47) by 476 runs.
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