Ranji Trophy Round-Up: Gujarat, Bengal and Maharashtra Seal Convincing Wins
A dramatic final day brought decisive results, hard-fought draws and several standout individual performances across the Ranji Trophy. Siddharth Desai’s five-wicket haul helped Gujarat complete a rapid victory over Odisha, while Bengal and Maharashtra also began their campaigns with wins. Elsewhere, resilient batting and weather interruptions prevented results in several matches.
For supporters following the latest cricket action, the round offered plenty to discuss: match-winning spells, tense fourth-innings chases and a few results that could influence the early shape of the competition. Any early-season prediction about which teams will dominate remains uncertain, but the performances provided useful clues about form, depth and temperament.
Gujarat, Bengal and Maharashtra Claim Outright Victories
Desai’s five-for puts Gujarat in control
Gujarat needed little time to finish off Odisha in Ahmedabad after beginning the final day with the visitors at 119 for 4 in their second innings, just four runs ahead. Desai led the attack with five wickets, while Arzan Nagwaswalla added three for 33 as Odisha were dismissed for 161.
That left Gujarat with a target of only 47. They raced to 48 without loss in 9.3 overs, securing a comfortable win and a bonus point. The result reflected the impact of Gujarat’s bowlers, who turned a modest overnight lead into a straightforward chase by striking consistently on the final morning.
Bengal overcome Badoni’s resistance
Bengal made a winning start to their Ranji Trophy campaign by defeating Delhi, despite a determined 85 from Delhi captain Ayush Badoni. Delhi resumed at 101 for 3 but could not build enough substantial partnerships, eventually being bowled out for 277.
Pradipta Pramanik took three wickets, with Aamir Gani and Sumanta Gupta claiming two each. Bengal required just 89 for victory. Ankur Paul contributed 38, while captain Abhimanyu Easwaran remained unbeaten on 34 to guide his side home. Delhi’s lower-order resistance made the finish more competitive than the target suggested, but Bengal kept the chase composed.
Ostwal’s five-wicket haul powers Maharashtra
Maharashtra earned a 127-run victory over Services in Delhi, with Vicky Ostwal’s five-wicket haul proving decisive. The result came after a lively contest between Ostwal and Arjun Sharma, who had also taken five wickets for Services earlier in the match.
Maharashtra resumed their second innings at 66 for 5 and slipped to 102 for 8 before Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s 43 helped lift them to 141. Chasing 248, Services found little room to settle. Ostwal was supported by Siddhesh Veer, who took three for 27, and Hitesh Walunj, who claimed two for 28. Their regular breakthroughs kept the chase under pressure and secured Maharashtra’s emphatic win.
Big Wins for Baroda and Vidarbha
Baroda crush Goa by an innings
Baroda overwhelmed Goa in Panaji, winning by an innings and 135 runs to collect seven points. Goa began the day at 35 for 1 in their second innings after being asked to follow on, but the visitors’ spin attack quickly took charge.
Bhargav Bhatt claimed five wickets in the innings and Mahesh Pithiya took four, completing nine wickets apiece for the match. The pair’s combined performance left Goa unable to recover from their difficult position. Baroda’s victory was built on sustained pressure, with the bowlers ensuring the hosts could not turn a promising overnight score into a meaningful resistance.
Dubey leads Vidarbha to a 160-run win
Vidarbha defeated Puducherry by 160 runs after half-centuries from Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade helped set up the match. Vidarbha declared their second innings at 175 for 3, establishing a target of 291.
Puducherry fell short as Harsh Dubey claimed four wickets, backed by Parth Rekhade’s three for 43 and Mokhade’s two for 31. The bowling group worked through the batting order at regular intervals, preventing the chase from gaining momentum. Vidarbha’s balanced contribution with bat and ball made this one of the round’s most complete team performances.
Jotin’s Unbeaten Century Delivers a Tense Plate-Group Chase
Manipur completed a memorable chase against Mizoram, with Pheiroijam Jotin’s unbeaten 105 steering them to a three-wicket victory. Manipur began the final day at 8 without loss while pursuing 228, but the match quickly turned into a major test of nerve as they slumped to 52 for 5.
Khiangte Vanrotlinga and Lalrempuia had put Mizoram in a commanding position with early wickets. Jotin, batting at No. 7, responded with a crucial 114-run partnership alongside Johnson Singh, who scored 51. Two more wickets then fell in quick succession, leaving Manipur at 185 for 7 and the outcome uncertain.
Jotin stayed calm through the closing stages and found a reliable partner in Rx Rajkumar, guiding Manipur across the line. His innings was a standout example of lower-order responsibility under pressure—and a reminder that fourth-innings cricket can shift dramatically even when a chase appears to be slipping away.
Draws Feature Strong Batting and Late Drama
Karun Nair’s 155 not out saves Karnataka
Karun Nair produced an unbeaten 155 to help Karnataka draw with Andhra in Vijayawada, although Andhra retained the first-innings lead. Karnataka resumed at 176 for 6 and lost two quick wickets, but Nair worked effectively with the lower order to take the total to 337 for 9 declared.
Set 194 for victory, Andhra reached 104 for 4 before the match ended. Nair’s innings gave Karnataka a chance to recover from a vulnerable position, but the hosts’ first-innings advantage ultimately shaped the result.
Rain interrupts Madhya Pradesh’s push in Srinagar
Madhya Pradesh were unable to force a result against defending champions Jammu and Kashmir, despite a strong position late in the match. Captain Shubham Sharma scored an unbeaten 106 as Madhya Pradesh declared at 249 for 6, setting a target of 326.
Avesh Khan and Aryan Pandey then tore through the top order, reducing Jammu and Kashmir to 12 for 5. The hosts’ lower middle order fought back, while rain and poor light repeatedly interrupted Madhya Pradesh’s hopes of completing the job. Auqib Nabi finished unbeaten on 30 and Kanhaiya Wadhawan on 27 as Jammu and Kashmir closed at 88 for 7. Kanishk Chouhan, who contributed a half-century and two wickets, was named Player of the Match.
Punjab take the lead after centuries in New Chandigarh
Punjab secured the first-innings lead against Assam before the match ended in a draw. Resuming at 287 for 5, Punjab advanced to 478 for 6 declared, powered by centuries from Salil Arora and Emanjot Singh Chahal.
Assam, trailing by 105, were soon in trouble at 36 for 3 as Umesh Yadav and Harpreet Brar struck. The middle order, however, showed resolve and helped Assam reach 157 for 6, keeping Punjab from building enough pressure to secure an outright win.
Other matches end without a decisive result
Saurashtra and Chhattisgarh played out a draw after Saurashtra extended their advantage with a second-innings declaration at 229 for 1. Chirag Jani made 127 not out and shared a 151-run opening stand with Harvik Desai, who scored 68. Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Match for his earlier century and three-wicket haul.
Kerala also drew with Jharkhand after Aditya Sarwate’s 95 helped his side reach 395 in response to Jharkhand’s 587. Sarwate and Salman Nizar, who made 43, occupied the crease for long periods to limit the damage. Kerala were asked to follow on and reached 60 for 2 before play ended.
Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu shared the points after Mahipal Lomror’s 84 helped Rajasthan declare at 192 for 6. Tamil Nadu closed at 73 without loss while chasing 282, with Sai Sudharsan unbeaten on 26. Rajasthan’s first-innings lead remained the key distinction between the sides.
In another Plate-group draw, Gurinder Singh struck an unbeaten 100 to help Sikkim resist Meghalaya. Sikkim began their second innings at 44 without loss, still 106 behind, and also received a valuable 66 from Parth Palawat. Their batting effort kept Meghalaya from forcing a result.
What the Results Mean
The latest round showcased several routes to victory: Gujarat and Bengal completed short chases, Maharashtra and Vidarbha relied on disciplined bowling, and Manipur produced a composed recovery after losing early wickets. The draws, meanwhile, highlighted the value of batting time and the influence of weather on four-day matches.
As the Ranji Trophy season develops, these results offer an early basis for cricket analysis and future match prediction, but they are not a guarantee of what comes next. Squad depth, conditions and the ability to perform under pressure will continue to shape the competition. For now, Desai, Ostwal, Jotin, Nair and the round’s other standout performers have given their teams—and fans—plenty to build on.
