Ranji Trophy Round-Up: Moliya’s Triple Century and Badoni’s Double Lead a Day of Big Scores
A series of remarkable batting displays and decisive spells shaped the latest round of Indian domestic cricket, with several Ranji Trophy matches producing major shifts in momentum. Priyanshu Moliya’s marathon triple-century stood out among the day’s performances, while Ayush Badoni recorded a second successive double hundred. Bowlers also made their mark, as Saransh Jain’s six-wicket haul helped Madhya Pradesh complete an innings victory over Bihar.
For supporters following the competition, the results offer plenty to consider: teams with imposing first-innings totals have built strong positions, while others are still battling to recover. Any cricket prediction for the next phase will depend on how quickly sides can turn these promising starts into wins—and whether the bowlers can make the most of changing conditions.
Moliya and Badoni headline a run-filled round
Baroda’s Priyanshu Moliya put Jammu and Kashmir’s attack through a long day in the field, compiling a monumental triple-century. His innings gave Baroda a commanding platform, with Mahesh Pithiya providing excellent support by scoring his maiden first-class hundred. The partnership underlined the value of patience in a format where sustained concentration can wear down even a disciplined bowling unit.
Ayush Badoni was equally influential for Delhi, registering his second consecutive double century. Sumit Mathur added an unbeaten 150, helping Delhi reach 515 for 5 and place their opponents under considerable pressure. The combination of Badoni’s attacking intent and Mathur’s stability gave Delhi both momentum and depth, leaving them well placed to dictate the next stage of the match.
Chandigarh also enjoyed a productive day against Himachal Pradesh. Nehal Pajni marked his first-class debut with a century, while Arslan Khan fell just short of three figures with a valuable 99. Their contributions extended Chandigarh’s advantage and added to Himachal Pradesh’s workload as the visitors searched for a breakthrough.
Individual hundreds keep several contests alive
Karan Sharma produced one of the most important rescue acts of the round for Uttar Pradesh. Arriving with his side in trouble, he remained unbeaten on 162 and guided the innings to 328 for 9 at stumps. Shivam Mavi contributed a half-century, helping Sharma rebuild after early losses. Their effort transformed a precarious position into a competitive total, although Uttar Pradesh still needed support from the final batter to continue the recovery.
Salil Arora made it three centuries in three games this season, scoring 151 to lead Punjab to 431. His remarkable consistency has made him one of the standout batters of the campaign so far. Hyderabad responded with purpose: Abhirath Reddy made 97, narrowly missing a hundred, while Rahul Radesh was unbeaten on 72. Their partnership gave Hyderabad a solid platform and ensured Punjab could not immediately turn its first-innings total into a decisive advantage.
Mizoram’s innings was powered by a massive stand between Kishan Lyngdoh and Ajay Duhan. Lyngdoh missed out on a double century, but Duhan reached the landmark as the pair added 413 runs together. Mizoram eventually posted 562, a total that places significant pressure on the opposition and gives its bowlers room to attack.
In another strong team effort, Shahbaz Ahmed scored 121 to take Bengal to 350 against Kerala. His contribution did not end with the bat: he also claimed two wickets, giving Bengal a valuable all-round boost. Kerala’s response will be crucial, particularly against a side that now has both runs and wickets to show for its work.
Rescues and first-innings leads shape the middle of the table
Rajat Patidar struck another rapid hundred to put Madhya Pradesh in a powerful position against Bihar. The innings helped establish a commanding lead before MP’s bowlers completed the job with a comprehensive innings win. Their performance was a reminder that a fast-scoring batter can change the pace of a match, but sustained bowling pressure is often what turns control into victory.
Andhra’s Amandeep Khare remained unbeaten on 74 in a determined effort to secure a first-innings lead against Chhattisgarh. Andhra finished the day just 15 runs behind, with two wickets remaining. The contest is finely balanced: a small lower-order partnership could put Andhra ahead, while quick wickets would give Chhattisgarh the advantage.
Saurabh Nawale’s 95 and Harshal Kate’s 84 helped their side climb out of danger against Gujarat and claim the first-innings lead. Karnataka also moved into a stronger position against Tripura in Mysuru, where half-centuries from Rohan Patil, Aneesh KV and Karun Nair helped the hosts secure their first first-innings lead of the season.
Vidarbha were closing in on a lead of their own, with Ravikumar Samarth scoring 53 and Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar both unbeaten on half-centuries. Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, relied on Baba Indrajith’s patient 59 to keep the deficit to 19 after collapsing to 112 for 8 against Railways. His innings prevented the gap from becoming more damaging and kept Tamil Nadu within reach.
Manipur enjoyed one of the round’s most explosive batting displays. Jotin Pheiroijam smashed 166 and shared a 216-run sixth-wicket partnership with Al Bashir Muhammad, helping Manipur build a commanding position over Arunachal Pradesh. The stand demonstrated how lower-order partnerships can reshape an innings after early setbacks.
Jain, Choudhury and Lemtur deliver with the ball
Saransh Jain was the leading bowler of the round, taking six wickets as Madhya Pradesh dismissed Bihar and secured a resounding innings victory in Indore. His spell capped a complete team performance, with Patidar’s hundred setting the tone and the bowling attack ensuring Bihar could not mount a meaningful reply.
Railways’ spinners Raj Choudhury and Toufik Mondal combined for nine wickets to bowl Tamil Nadu out for 165 and give their side a narrow 19-run first-innings lead. Sai Kishore then claimed four wickets in Tamil Nadu’s second innings, reducing the visitors to a difficult position. The match remains a test of patience, with every run and wicket likely to matter.
Kukna Ajay Singh took five wickets for Rajasthan, helping secure a vital advantage over Uttarakhand in Dehradun. Kerala’s Aditya Sarvate also produced a demanding spell, bowling 32 overs and taking four wickets. His endurance kept pressure on Bengal’s batters and highlighted the importance of long, disciplined spells in first-class cricket.
In Rangpo, Nagaland’s Imliwati Lemtur claimed five wickets to leave his side with a slender three-run lead over Sikkim. With such a narrow margin, the next innings could quickly swing the match either way.
What to watch next
The round has created several contrasting scenarios: huge totals that need to be converted into victories, close contests decided by small first-innings margins, and recovery efforts that have kept teams in contention. For fans weighing up a cricket prediction, the key factors will be the condition of the pitch, the availability of fresh bowlers and the ability of lower-order batters to extend an innings. With multiple matches still finely poised, the next session could prove just as important as the hundreds and five-wicket hauls already recorded.
