CO2, H2O and energy fluxes from chickpea crop grown under residual soil moisture condition in rainfed peninsular India using eddy covariance techniques

•Rainfed winter Chickpea was net CO2 sink on daily-basis during 17–69 days after sowing.•Asymmetric response of daytime CO2 and H2O fluxes observed due to moisture stress.•Study reports peak daily GPP (4.2 gC m−2 day−1), NEE (−2.52 gC m−2 day−1) and ET (2.38 mm day−1).•Seasonal NEE (−32 ± 4 gC m−2), GPP (163 ± 15 gC m−2) and ET (177 ± 18 mm day−1) were estimated.•Peak ecosystem water use efficiency (1.7 gC m−2 mm−1) and crop coefficient (0.6) found to be sub-optimal.