Duleep Trophy 2016 Final - Statistical Highlights

BCCI restored their Zonal first-class tournament, Duleep Trophy with their selective players in the 3 teams: India Blue, India Red and India Green and the experimentation of Pink ball was made. The tournament marks out to be the first ever event with Pink ball in India and also only the 2nd event of day/night first-class game under lights since 1996/97 Ranji Trophy final.

Gautam Gambhir led India Blue registered a convincing 355-run win over the India Red in the final to lift the title. Here we look at the major stats recorded during the final and the whole tournament.

1 – Cheteshwar Pujara is now the first Indian to have 10 double centuries in first-class cricket before turning 30.

2 – India Blue vs India Red match in the league stage is only the 2nd first-class game in India since 2014 without even 1 completed inning.

Also read – Duleep Trophy Final, Review: India Blue blow away India Red to clinch the title

4 – Mayank Agarwal and Gautam Gambhir pair is now the first to have 4 century opening stands in Duleep Trophy history. Aakash Chopra and Vikram Rathour had 3 such stands between them.

4 – Ravindra Jadeja is only the 4th player to take two five-wicket hauls in a Duleep Trophy final. Erapalli Prasanna, S Madan Lal and VRV Singh are the other 3.

4 – Number of first-class cricket tournament finals Gautam Gambhir has played in so far. On all the 4 occasions, his team ended up on the winning side. Rohit Sharma has a similar record in FC tournament finals as his side won on 3 out of 3 occasions.

6 – Number of times Gautam Gambhir has been involved in a century opening stand in Duleep Trophy history. He went past Vikram Rathour and Arun Lala who had been a part of 5 such stands between them.

10 – Number of double centuries Pujara has scored in first-class cricket, joint 2nd most by an Indian.

10 – Number of 5-wicket hauls Ravindra Jadeja has taken in first-class cricket since last October. Since April 2015, these are the most for any bowler. Ravi Ashwin has 9 five-wicket hauls in this period.

10/171 – Ravindra Jadeja’s 10/171 are the 4th best figures in a Duleep Trophy final.

17 – Number of wickets Kuldeep Yadav has taken in this Duleep Trophy, these are the most by a spinner in a single Duleep Trophy tournament since 2007.

26 – Number of centuries Cheteshwar Pujara has scored in first-class cricket in India, the most by any player since his debut.

256* – Cheteshwar Pujara’s 256* in the final is the 2nd highest individual score in a Duleep Trophy final. Raman Lamba’s 320 is the highest.

355 – Margin of victory for India Blue in the final. This is 4th highest margin in terms of runs in Duleep Trophy and the highest in a final.

453 – Runs scored by Cheteshwar Pujara in this Duleep Trophy, the most by any player in a single Duleep Trophy tournament since 2002.

Also read – Poll: Did Gautam Gambhir deserve a chance ahead of Shikhar Dhawan?