Andhra claimed the top spot in Elite Group A of the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy by defeating Vidarbha by eight wickets at the Anantapur Cricket Ground. Shaik Rasheed’s unbeaten 132, supported by Captain Ricky Bhui’s 64 not out and K.S. Bharat’s 43, guided Andhra to victory while chasing 259 runs.
Starting the day at 93/1, Andhra took advantage of favorable morning conditions. Despite losing Bharat to Nachiket Bhute, Rasheed and Bhui’s partnership of 145 runs off 163 balls dashed any hopes of a Vidarbha comeback.
Bhui, who had struggled in red-ball cricket, showcased fluent strokes early on, while Rasheed’s well-timed shots and placements dominated the opposition. This win also put an end to Vidarbha’s 16-match unbeaten streak in first-class cricket, marking their first defeat in red-ball cricket since the 2023/24 Ranji Trophy final.
Mumbai secured a spot in the knockouts with a convincing nine-wicket win over Hyderabad in their Elite Group D clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Led by India pacer Mohammed Siraj, Hyderabad faced a tough match as Mumbai enforced the follow-on and bowled them out for 302 in the second innings.
