Hyderabad, October 2026 : India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj made an impressive start as Hyderabad captain, guiding his side to a commanding victory over Tripura in their opening Group B fixture of the Ranji Trophy. Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai also registered emphatic wins inside three days, underlining their strong starts to the domestic first-class season.
Siraj, appointed Hyderabad captain for the first two matches, helped his team secure an innings-and-40-run victory at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad. While the fast bowler claimed two wickets in Tripura's second innings, left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan emerged as the standout performer with a match haul of nine wickets.
Tripura, who elected to bat first, were bowled out for just 134 in their first innings. Left-arm spinner Aniketh Reddy led Hyderabad's bowling effort with a five-wicket haul, while Tanay chipped in with three wickets. The opposition struggled to establish partnerships and were unable to put up a substantial total.
Hyderabad responded with 294, building their innings around contributions from the top order and lower middle order. Opener Tanmay Agarwal scored 54, while Abhirath Reddy contributed 32. However, Hyderabad suffered a brief collapse after Gahlaut Rahul Singh was dismissed for five, Pragnay Reddy departed without scoring and Kodimela Himateja managed only 18.
The lower order steadied the innings. Ruthik Yadav Mende struck 61 off 150 balls, while Rahul Radesh scored 40 from 119 deliveries. Chama V Milind added an attacking 40 off 55 balls to help Hyderabad establish a decisive lead.
Tripura's second innings proved equally disappointing. Tanay claimed six wickets to finish with nine for the match, while Siraj picked up two wickets. Ruthik and Abhirath also took one wicket each as Tripura were dismissed for 120, handing Hyderabad a comprehensive victory.
Uttar Pradesh Crush Bihar by an Innings and 267 Runs
In the Group A encounter at the Rajgir International Cricket Stadium, Aryan Juyal-led Uttar Pradesh overwhelmed Bihar by an innings and 267 runs.
Uttar Pradesh posted a formidable 540 in their first innings, thanks to centuries from Madhav Kaushik and Rinku Singh. Kaushik scored 150, while Rinku contributed 112. Aaradhya Yadav added 84 and Zeeshan Ansari made 58, ensuring Uttar Pradesh built a commanding total.
Bihar, led by Sakibul Gani, struggled in reply and were dismissed for 141. Opener Mangal Mahrour was their highest scorer with just 25 runs. Uttar Pradesh bowlers Kartik Yadav and Karan Sharma shared eight wickets, claiming four apiece.
Asked to follow on, Bihar failed to recover and managed only 132 in their second innings. Zeeshan Ansari took four wickets, while Karan Sharma claimed three and Kartik Yadav added two to complete the dominant win.
Mumbai Dominate Chandigarh at Wankhede
Mumbai also registered a convincing victory, defeating Chandigarh by an innings and 155 runs in their Group D fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai scored 429 in their only innings, with captain Siddhesh Lad leading the way with 86. Musheer Khan contributed 65, while Tanush Kotian and Mohit Avasthi scored 58 and 56 respectively.
Chandigarh's Raj Bawa and Rohit Dhanda picked up four wickets each, but their batters struggled against Mumbai's bowling attack. Tushar Deshpande delivered a superb performance, taking a hat-trick before completing a five-wicket haul as Chandigarh were bowled out for just 78.
Forced to follow on, Chandigarh showed greater resistance in their second innings but were dismissed for 196. Opener Arjun Azad scored 62 and Shivam Bhambri contributed 44, but their efforts could not prevent defeat. Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian claimed three wickets each, while Deshpande picked up two more.
With Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai all securing emphatic victories, the opening round of the Ranji Trophy has produced impressive performances from both established international players and emerging domestic talent.
