Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Kerala, Mumbai, and Delhi Secure Key Victories
Kerala Triumphs with Saxena's Five-Wicket Performance
Kerala achieved a remarkable innings-and-36-run victory over Odisha, thanks to Jalaj Saxena's impressive five-wicket haul. This match, part of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27, took place on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mumbai celebrated their second consecutive bonus-point win in the tournament. After suffering a defeat in their opening match against Bengal, Delhi bounced back by earning three points against Gujarat, having taken a first-innings lead. Additionally, Punjab and Hyderabad also secured convincing wins over Chhattisgarh and Andhra, respectively.
Saxena's Bowling Leads Kerala to Victory
In a thrilling encounter in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala bowled out Odisha for 143 in their second innings, with Saxena leading the charge with figures of 5/34 in 18 overs. This victory propelled Kerala to third place in the standings, trailing only Maharashtra and Bengal, who had previously defeated Services by 60 runs. Odisha, resuming their second innings at 102/4, lost their last six wickets for a mere 41 runs.
Delhi's Strong Comeback Against Gujarat
Delhi recovered from their earlier loss to Bengal by securing three points against Gujarat in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at Palam B Ground. The match concluded in a draw, with Delhi gaining the first-innings lead after declaring at 648/6. Captain Ayush Badoni's remarkable 217 and Priyansh Arya's 199 earned him the Player of the Match title. Gujarat, who had led the standings after the first round, resumed their innings at 363/5 and finished at 479, conceding a 169-run lead.
Mumbai's Dominance Continues
Mumbai maintained their dominance in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D by defeating Himachal Pradesh by an innings and 97 runs in Bilaspur. They declared their first innings at 528/8, bolstered by centuries from Sarfaraz Khan (154) and Akash Anand (117). Himachal Pradesh struggled in response, being bowled out for 140, which gave Mumbai a substantial first-innings lead of 388 runs. They then dismissed Himachal for 291 in the second innings, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Victories for Punjab, Saurashtra, and Hyderabad
Punjab achieved a seven-wicket victory over Chhattisgarh in their Ranji Trophy Group B match in Mullanpur. Spinners Harjas Singh and Emanjot Singh Chahal each took three wickets. After scoring 456 in their first innings, Punjab bowled Chhattisgarh out for 206 and enforced the follow-on. Chhattisgarh showed resilience in their second innings, scoring 335, but Punjab chased down the target of 86 runs in just 16.5 overs. Saurashtra also secured three points against Karnataka after a narrow first-innings lead, while Hyderabad triumphed over Andhra with a 267-run victory, led by left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan, who took six wickets for just 35 runs.