Vijay Hazare Trophy Highlights: Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya Shine in Elite Matches

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 delivered thrilling cricket action with standout performances from players like Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya. Gujarat's Axar Patel scored a remarkable century, while Punjab's Arshdeep Singh took five wickets to lead his team to victory. Other highlights included impressive innings from Maharashtra and Karnataka, showcasing the depth of talent in this year's tournament. Read on for a detailed breakdown of each match and the key players who made an impact.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 3, 2026, 18:59 IST

Exciting Performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy

The Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) Elite matches on Saturday showcased remarkable performances, including Axar Patel's century for Gujarat, Arshdeep Singh's five-wicket haul for Punjab, and Harshit Rana's four wickets for Delhi. Additionally, Devdutt Padikkal also scored a century, while Hardik Pandya made a significant contribution with a ton for Baroda.

Gujarat vs Andhra

In the match between Gujarat and Andhra, Gujarat set a challenging target of 318/9 after being invited to bat first. Axar Patel was the star, scoring a remarkable 130 runs off 111 balls, marking his first List A century with 11 fours and five sixes. Despite Andhra's bowlers struggling to contain him, they managed to take regular wickets, with Satyanarayana Raju claiming four wickets.

Punjab vs Sikkim

Punjab showcased a dominant performance against Sikkim, winning by 10 wickets. After choosing to field first, Punjab's bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh, dismantled Sikkim's batting lineup, restricting them to just 75 runs in 22.2 overs. Arshdeep's exceptional five-wicket haul (5/34) ensured that no Sikkim batter could settle in. Punjab chased down the target effortlessly in just 6.2 overs, with Prabhsimran Singh scoring an unbeaten 53 off 26 balls.

Maharashtra vs Mumbai

In a high-scoring encounter, Maharashtra posted an impressive 366/4 against Mumbai. Prithvi Shaw set the tone with a solid 71 off 75 balls, while Arshin Kulkarni stole the spotlight with a brilliant 114 off 114 balls. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad contributed a quick 66 off 52 balls, and Ramakrishna Ghosh finished with a blistering 64 off just 27 balls, helping Maharashtra surpass the 350-run mark.

Delhi vs Services

Delhi's bowlers excelled against Services, bowling them out for 178 in 42.5 overs. Harshit Rana was the standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 47 runs in his 10 overs. He made early breakthroughs and consistently disrupted Services' batting order, supported by Prince Yadav, who took three wickets.

Hyderabad vs Chandigarh

Hyderabad managed to recover from a shaky start to post a competitive total of 286/9. Captain Tilak Varma anchored the innings with a century, scoring 109 off 118 balls, while Abhirath Reddy added a crucial 71. Their partnership helped stabilize the innings after an early collapse.

Baroda vs Vidarbha

Baroda made a remarkable comeback against Vidarbha, scoring 293/9 after a poor start. Hardik Pandya played a pivotal role, scoring 133 runs off 92 balls, marking his first List A century. Despite early wickets, Hardik's explosive innings, which included eight fours and 11 sixes, lifted Baroda to a competitive total.

Jharkhand's Strong Recovery

Jharkhand bounced back from an early collapse to score 311/7. Kumar Kushagra was instrumental, scoring an unbeaten 143 off 137 balls, while Anukul Roy supported him with 72 runs. Their partnership of 176 runs for the fifth wicket was crucial in stabilizing the innings.

Tamil Nadu vs Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu's bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, restricting Rajasthan to 225 runs in 46.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs. Despite some promising starts from Rajasthan's batsmen, they couldn't convert them into big scores.

Karnataka vs Tripura

Karnataka showcased a powerful batting display, scoring 332/7. Devdutt Padikkal continued his excellent form with 108 runs off 120 balls. He received support from Ravichandran Smaran, who scored 60, and Abhinav Manohar, who finished with an explosive 79 off 43 balls.

Bengal vs Assam

In the match between Bengal and Assam, Abhimanyu Easwaran scored a solid 102 runs, leading his team to a total of 302/7. He was well-supported by Shahbaz Ahmed, who contributed 66 runs. Despite Assam's bowlers taking two wickets each, they couldn't prevent Bengal from surpassing the 300-run mark.