The first day of the Ranji Trophy tie between Punjab and Saurashtra was a true left-arm spinners’ bowling bonanza. Punjab Cricket Team Vs Saurashtra Cricket Team Match Scorecard highlights how Harpreet Brar and Parth Bhut claimed a combined 23 wickets before Jay Gohil’s superb effort with the willow drew the game into balance on a turning track. But it was Vishvaraj Jadeja’s masterclass in a 165-run innings that put the icing on the cake.
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saurashtra | 172 | 286 | Won by 194 runs |
| Punjab | 139 | 125 | Lost |
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Gohil | Saurashtra | 82 runs |
| Harpreet Brar | Punjab | 6 wickets in Saurashtra’s first innings |
| Parth Bhut | Saurashtra | Player of the Match |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Saurashtra | 7 runs in 1st innings |
| Date | Opponent | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2026 | Karnataka | Ranji Trophy | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Saurashtra | Ranji Trophy | Lost by 194 runs |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Saurashtra | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Lost by 9 wickets |
| Jan 13, 2026 | Madhya Pradesh | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 183 runs |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Mumbai | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 1 run |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Goa | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 6 wickets |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Sikkim | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 10 wickets |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Himachal Pradesh | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 6 wickets |
| Dec 29, 2025 | Uttarakhand | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Dec 26, 2025 | Chhattisgarh | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 9 wickets |
| Date | Opponent | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2026 | Chandigarh | Ranji Trophy | Won by an innings & 56 runs |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Punjab | Ranji Trophy | Won by 194 runs |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Vidarbha | Vijay Hazare Trophy Final | Lost by 38 runs |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Punjab | Vijay Hazare Trophy Semi-Final | Won by 9 wickets |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Uttar Pradesh | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 7 wickets |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Gujarat | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 145 runs |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Services | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 111 runs |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Railways | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 32 runs |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Andhra | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Won by 74 runs |
| Dec 29, 2025 | Delhi | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Lost by 3 wickets |
Harpreet Brar
When Harpreet Brar picked up a cricket bat for the first time, his life took a turn. He could have been a Punjab police officer or flown to Canada for higher studies, but his destiny had something else in store for him. The left-arm spinner realised that he was born to play cricket and decided to make the most of it.
He started playing regularly and was able to impress at age group tournaments. He then attended four trials and was able to secure a spot with the Punjab franchise.
Harpreet has made a huge impact at the domestic level, and his performance in this match was nothing short of brilliant. He smashed the bowlers around him, and put in an outstanding batting display to help his side win. He is an exciting player to watch and has a bright future ahead of him.
He has been a great servant for the Punjab franchise and has shown incredible loyalty to the club. He doesn’t get as many chances as he would have liked, but he does not try to leave the team and instead works hard at his game. Harpreet is a great role model for young players and should be applauded for his loyalty.
Harpreet is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who was born on 16 September 1995. He has played for the Punjab Kings, India Under-23, BLV Blasters, and Royal Phantoms so far in his career. He has taken 37 wickets in 52 matches and 48 innings for these sides.
Parth Bhut
Parth Bhut struck three quick wickets towards the fag-end of the opening day to help Punjab nullify Saurashtra’s first innings lead in the Ranji Trophy Group B match here. He bowled 10 overs in the innings, which included three maidens.
With Saurashtra at 147 for 8, Bhut, batting at No 9, thrashed a 155-ball unbeaten 111 to guide his side to 303 and keep them in the game. He shared valuable partnerships of 61 with Chetan Sakariya and 95 with last man Yuvrajsinh Dodiya.
Earlier, opener Prabhsimran Singh and Jay Gohil helped Punjab race to 379 in their second essay. However, they were unable to put up a defendable total on a pitch that suited spinners.
Vishvaraj Jadeja
Vishvaraj Jadeja was the undisputed hero of the match, with a majestic, unbeaten 165 runs that helped Saurashtra romp to a thumping victory over Punjab in a gripping Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final. After a decent start with an unbeaten 102 from Anmolpreet Brar and a fluent 87 from captain Prabhsimran Singh, Punjab’s bowlers were smashed all around the park by Saurashtra’s top order, who never allowed the hosts to settle into a rhythm. The batting performance put them well and truly in the driver’s seat as they marched towards the final with aplomb. The win also cemented their spot as a formidable contender for the VHT crown.
Prerak Mankad
Saurashtra smashed Punjab’s line-up in the second semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, to storm into Sunday’s final. They reached 292 to claim a crushing victory at the Centre of Excellence, with Vishvaraj Jadeja leading the charge with his unbeaten 165*. Jadeja shared an opening partnership of 172 with Harvik Desai and also added a 121-run stand for the third wicket with Prerak Mankad.
Gurnoor Brar bowls a tidy first over, and the run-rate gets a fillip after Jadeja and Desai make merry in Krish Bhagat’s first over. Mankad meanwhile moves up to 69 not out off 56 balls, and his team are well on their way to victory.
Mankad is a high-utility batsman who can bowl some useful medium pace. He’s made his name as a reliable middle-order batsman, but has pushed himself into the fast lane in recent times. He’s been a key member of Saurashtra’s domestic teams across all formats, and has now scored over 1000 runs in the Ranji Trophy.
Having batted first, Punjab set a challenging target of 292. They were boosted by a brilliant century from Anmolpreet Singh and a fluent 87 from captain Prabhsimran. However, their lower order crumbled under the pressure of Chetan Sakariya (4/60) and Jaydev Unadkat (3/60), resulting in a total of 291.
As soon as Mankad came to the crease, he looked confident. He struck a boundary off the first ball of the innings, and then took two more in the same over. His aggressive strokeplay helped him reach a half-century off 53 balls, and he was joined by Desai at the other end.
Mankad was dropped down to the fifth batting position, but his aggressive approach made him hard to get out. He smashed four sixes and two fours in his unbeaten innings as Punjab were dismissed for 326. The Punjab Cricket Team Vs Saurashtra Cricket Team Match Scorecard highlights Saurashtra’s strong performance and Mankad’s valuable contribution.
The win meant that Saurashtra secured a place in the final against Vidarbha on Sunday. Their victory was their fourth in the competition this season, putting them top of the league table. They are four points clear of Chandigarh with four games left in the league stage.
Also Read : Punjab Cricket Team Vs Karnataka Cricket Team
