Mohammed Shami's Bengal Triumph and Gujarat's 10-Wicket Win Headline Ranji Trophy Action

The opening round of the Ranji Trophy 2026–27 delivered convincing victories, individual milestones and tense finishes across the country. Bengal and Gujarat made strong starts to their campaigns with comfortable wins, while Jammu and Kashmir showed resilience to hold Madhya Pradesh to a draw in Srinagar.

Gujarat defeated Odisha by 10 wickets after Siddharth Desai's five-wicket haul dismantled the visitors' second innings. Bengal chased down a target of 89 to beat Delhi by nine wickets, while Maharashtra, Baroda, Vidarbha, Haryana and Manipur also registered victories. Several other matches ended in draws after determined batting performances or weather interruptions.

Bengal Start Their Campaign with a Nine-Wicket Victory

Bengal opened their campaign with a convincing nine-wicket win over Delhi after completing the job on the fourth and final day. Delhi resumed their second innings at 101/3 but struggled to build a match-saving total, eventually being dismissed for 277.

Delhi captain Ayush Badoni led the resistance with 85 off 134 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat contributed 39. However, Bengal kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Pradipta Pramanik claimed three wickets, while Aamir Gani and Sumanta Gupta picked up two each.

Needing only 89 runs to win, Bengal reached the target in 15.3 overs. Ankur Paul scored an attacking 38, and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran remained unbeaten on 34 to guide the side home. The result gave Bengal an encouraging start to their Group C campaign.

Gujarat Crush Odisha to Earn a Bonus Point

Gujarat produced one of the most emphatic results of the round, beating Odisha by 10 wickets in Ahmedabad. Left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai was the standout performer, taking 5/36 in the second innings as Odisha were bowled out for 161.

Odisha had resumed at 119/4 but could not build a substantial lead. Desai found regular breakthroughs, while Arzan Nagwaswalla supported him with three wickets for 33 runs. Gujarat needed just 47 runs to win and completed the chase in 9.3 overs without losing a wicket.

The comprehensive victory earned Gujarat a bonus point, making it an excellent beginning to their season under coach Monty Desai.

Maharashtra Defeat Services by 127 Runs

Maharashtra secured a 127-run victory over Services in Delhi after defending a target of 248. Their second innings ended at 141, with Rajvardhan Hangargekar contributing a valuable 43 to give the bowlers a total to defend.

Services were unable to build the partnerships required for a successful chase. Vicky Ostwal led Maharashtra's attack with a five-wicket haul, while Siddhesh Veer took three wickets and Hitesh Walunj claimed two. The collective effort ensured that Services were dismissed for 120.

Ostwal's performance was especially important because Arjun Sharma had also taken five wickets for Services earlier in the match. Maharashtra's bowlers ultimately made the difference by working together to close out the contest.

Baroda Secure an Innings-and-135-Run Win

Baroda delivered another dominant performance, defeating Goa by an innings and 135 runs in Panaji. Goa began the final day at 35/1 in their second innings after being asked to follow on, but their batting line-up could not withstand Baroda's bowling attack.

Bhargav Bhatt and Mahesh Pithiya were particularly effective. Bhatt claimed five wickets in the second innings, while Pithiya took four, and both finished with nine wickets apiece for the match. Goa were dismissed for 138, handing Baroda a commanding victory and seven points.

Vidarbha Overpower Puducherry

Vidarbha beat Puducherry by 160 runs after setting the hosts a target of 291. Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade scored half-centuries in Vidarbha's second innings, which was declared at 175/3.

Puducherry struggled to respond and were bowled out for 130. Harsh Dubey led the bowling effort, with Parth Rekhade and Mokhade also making important contributions. Vidarbha's attack maintained pressure throughout the chase, ensuring the target remained out of reach.

Haryana Complete a Seven-Wicket Win

Haryana needed fewer than 10 overs on the final morning to complete a seven-wicket victory over Himachal Pradesh. They resumed at 26/3 while chasing 71 and reached the target without allowing the contest to become complicated.

Kanishk Chouhan made a notable all-round contribution, scoring a half-century and taking two wickets during the match. His performance earned him Player of the Match honours as Haryana began their campaign with a useful victory.

Manipur Survive a Scare to Beat Mizoram

Manipur produced a determined recovery to defeat Mizoram by three wickets in their Plate Group match. Chasing 228, Manipur resumed at 8/0 but quickly slumped to 52/5, putting the result in serious doubt.

Pheiroijam Jotin then played a decisive innings, finishing unbeaten on 105. He shared a 114-run partnership with Johnson Singh, who scored 51, to bring Manipur back into the contest. Even after two more wickets fell, Jotin remained composed and completed the chase with Rx Rajkumar alongside him.

The victory highlighted the importance of lower-order contributions in first-class cricket, particularly when a chase begins to unravel under pressure.

Jammu and Kashmir Hold On Against Madhya Pradesh

Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir survived a difficult final day to draw against Madhya Pradesh in Srinagar. Madhya Pradesh declared their second innings at 249/6, powered by captain Shubham Sharma's unbeaten 106, setting J&K a target of 326.

The chase began disastrously for the hosts, who slipped to 12/5 as Avesh Khan and Aryan Pandey ripped through the top order. With the possibility of defeat growing, J&K's lower middle order had to focus on survival rather than scoring quickly.

Auqib Nabi remained unbeaten on 30, while Kanhaiya Wadhawan finished on 27 not out after returning to the crease following a retirement hurt. They helped J&K reach 88/7 before rain and bad light ended the contest. The draw was a hard-earned result for the defending champions after their dramatic collapse.

Karun Nair Rescues Karnataka Against Andhra

Karun Nair produced an unbeaten 155 to help Karnataka recover from a difficult position against Andhra in Vijayawada. Karnataka began the final day at 176/6 and lost further wickets, but Nair continued to bat with patience and guided the team to 337/9 declared.

Andhra were set 194 runs to win but finished at 104/4 when the match ended in a draw. The hosts had secured the first-innings lead, giving them the advantage in the points outcome despite Karnataka's determined recovery.

Punjab and Assam Share the Points

Punjab's batting was highlighted by centuries from Salil Arora and Emanjot Singh Chahal, who helped the team reach 478/6 declared. Both batters converted their opportunities into major scores and strengthened Punjab's position after the team had resumed the day at 287/5.

Assam, who began their second innings 105 runs behind, lost three early wickets and faced the threat of defeat. However, their middle order responded with a determined effort, allowing them to reach 157/6 before the teams settled for a draw. Punjab took the first-innings lead.

Saurashtra Draw with Chhattisgarh

Saurashtra's match against Chhattisgarh also ended in a draw after a strong batting display. Chirag Jani scored 127, sharing a 151-run opening partnership with Harvik Desai, who made 68. Saurashtra declared their second innings at 229/1 after already taking the first-innings lead.

Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Match following his century and three-wicket contribution earlier in the game. His all-round performance was one of the notable individual achievements of the round.

Kerala Resist Jharkhand After Following On

Jharkhand had posted a massive 587, putting Kerala under pressure from the outset. Kerala resumed their first innings at 269/6 and were in danger of being dismissed for a much smaller total, but Aditya Sarwate and Salman Nizar helped them bat for longer.

Sarwate scored 95 from 135 balls, while Nizar contributed 43 from 135 deliveries. Kerala eventually reached 395 before being bowled out and asked to follow on. They then reached 60/2 in their second innings, ensuring the match ended in a draw.

Other Notable Performances

Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu played out a draw after Mahipal Lomror scored 84 from 170 balls to keep Tamil Nadu in the contest. Rajasthan declared their second innings at 192/6, setting a target of 282, but Tamil Nadu finished at 73/0 as time ran out.

In the Plate Group, Sikkim drew against Meghalaya thanks to Gurinder Singh's unbeaten 100 from 160 balls and Parth Palawat's 66. Sikkim had started the day trailing by 106 runs, but their batting effort helped them avoid defeat.

Meanwhile, Gujarat and Bengal's victories were among the strongest statements of the opening round, while Manipur's tense chase and Jammu and Kashmir's late resistance provided some of the most dramatic finishes.

Conclusion

The opening round of the Ranji Trophy 2026–27 showcased the depth and competitiveness of India's domestic red-ball cricket. Bengal and Gujarat secured convincing wins, with Gujarat earning a bonus point, while Maharashtra, Baroda, Vidarbha, Haryana and Manipur also registered victories. Elsewhere, Jammu and Kashmir's lower order fought to secure a draw, and several other teams relied on patient batting to avoid defeat. The early results set up an intriguing domestic season.