Ranji Trophy: Dubey picks 6-37 as Vidarbha take upper hand over UP in must-win clash
Nagpur, Jan 29
Vidarbha captain Harsh Dubey claimed 6-37 in 19.5 overs to bowl out Uttar Pradesh for 237 in 68.5 overs on the opening day of their must-win Elite Group A clash in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday.
By the time stumps were called, Vidarbha reached 33 for loss in 12 overs to take early honours in a game they needed to win outright to enter the knockouts. Electing to bat first, UP were struggling at 109/6 before Dhruv Jurel (96) and Shivam Mavi (47) added 92 runs for the seventh wicket to help UP cross the 200-run mark.
At the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Salem, Sukirt Pandey struck an unbeaten 73 and Ninad Rathva made 66 as Baroda reached 247/5 against Tamil Nadu. Electing to bat, Baroda were reduced to 72/4 after off-spinner J. Hemchudeshan claimed three wickets in his first four overs and captain R. Sai Kishore took one scalp.
But Rathva and Pandey steadied the innings once the pitch eased, adding valuable runs with measured strokeplay. Pandey and skipper Atit Sheth (45 not out) shared an unbroken 90-run stand for the sixth wicket, thus ensuring Baroda ended the day in a strong position after Tamil Nadu's early strikes.
At Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Sovima, Chetan Bist struck a commanding unbeaten 160 as Nagaland reached 322/6 in 90 overs against Andhra. Nagaland were in trouble at 59/4, before Bist led a remarkable recovery, adding 167 for the fifth wicket with Dega Nischal, who made 74 from 188 balls.
The wicketkeeper-batter struck 23 fours and a six in his 217-ball stay, dominating the innings and keeping Nagaland in control. Though Nischal was dismissed late in the day and Imliwati Lemtur fell cheaply, Bist found support from Nagaho Chishi, who remained unbeaten on 37.
At Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha ended day one's play at 242/6 in 92 overs against Jharkhand, with Swastik Samal (79) and Govinda Podder (64) scoring half-centuries. Jharkhand, the only side that can deny Vidarbha qualification for knockouts, were kept at bay by Odisha's gritty batters.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Dhruv Jurel played a brilliant knock of 96 under pressure. It's a shame he missed his century, but that partnership with Shivam Mavi saved UP from complete disaster. The Ranji Trophy is producing such exciting young talent!
As a player from a smaller state, I'm so proud to see Chetan Bist's unbeaten 160 for Nagaland! This is what domestic cricket is about - giving players from all regions a platform to shine. Fantastic recovery from 59/4.
The pitch at Nagpur seems to have eased out as the day progressed. Baroda's recovery after being 72/4 shows the importance of batting sessions. Pandey and Rathva played sensibly.
I follow Ranji Trophy from the US, and it's amazing to see the depth of Indian cricket. So many matches happening simultaneously with compelling stories. The Jharkhand-Odisha game could decide Vidarbha's fate indirectly!
Respectfully, while the individual performances are great, I wish BCCI would improve the coverage. Many of us would love to watch these games live, not just read summaries. The Ranji Trophy deserves better broadcast quality.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.