Navdeep Saini made his highest first-class score and shared a record eighth-wicket partnership of 205 runs with Musheer Khan in the India A vs India B match of the Duleep Trophy 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

It was the first 200-plus stand for the eighth wicket in Duleep Trophy history. It surpassed the previous best of 197 between West Zone’s Abhishek Nayar and Ramesh Powar in the first semi-final against East Zone in Rajkot in 2010.

On Thursday, India B were in a worrisome situation at 94/7 when Saini joined an in-form Musheer at the crease in the second session. The duo remained unbeaten for the remainder of the day, with Musheer scoring his first Duleep Trophy century, his third in four first-class matches, and Saini on 29.

The Musheer-Saini duo continued to score freely in the first session on Day 2 but the Mumbai-based batter was dismissed soon after the lunch break by Kuldeep Yadav for 181, ending a record 205-run stand, which came in 403 balls.

The 31-year-old Navdeep Saini, however, pushed on and forged 56 runs off 144 balls for his highest first-class score and his second fifty. The knock included eight fours and a six. India B, as a result, ended the innings at 321.

While Akash Deep picked four wickets for India A, Avesh Khan scalped 2/59 in 22 overs. Tanush Kotian went wicketless in his seven.

Later on Friday, Saini, plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, followed with an impressive spell with the ball (8-1-36-2). The Haryana-born speedster went through the defence of India A captain Shubman Gill in the 14th over, ending a 57-run opening stand, before having Mayank Agarwal caught behind in his following over.

Playing his 67th first-class match, Saini has scalped 186 wickets so far, including five five-wicket hauls.

Meanwhile, India A scored 134/2, trailing by 187 runs, by stumps on Day 2 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with KL Rahul and Riyan Parag at the crease.