Bihar’s captain, Sakibul Gani, expressed pride in his team’s performance after winning the Ranji Trophy Plate final against Manipur. The victory propelled Bihar to the Elite Group, with Gani commending the lower-order batsmen for their crucial role in achieving a 500+ first innings total despite losing five early wickets.
In a dominant display, Bihar defeated Manipur by 568 runs in the Ranji Trophy Plate 2025–26 final at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium. The victory not only secured the Plate title for Bihar but also ensured their promotion to the Elite Group for the upcoming season.
Bihar set the tone by amassing 522 runs in their first innings, with Bipin Saurabh’s 143 and Gani’s 108 leading the charge, supported by Suraj Kashyap’s 83. Manipur responded with 264 runs, with Ronald Longjam top-scoring at 79, giving Bihar a significant first-innings lead that proved decisive according to Gani.
Reflecting on the match, Gani acknowledged Manipur’s strong start but credited the partnership between Bipin and himself for stabilizing Bihar’s innings. He highlighted the crucial role played by the lower-order batsmen in maintaining momentum and surpassing the 500-run mark.
Bihar further asserted their dominance by declaring at 505/6 in the second innings, powered by Piyush Singh’s unbeaten 216, complemented by Raghuvendra Pratap Singh and Khalid Alam’s contributions. Setting Manipur a daunting target of 764, Bihar’s bowlers, led by Suraj Kashyap and Himanshu Singh, sealed the victory by dismissing Manipur for 195.
Gani emphasized Bihar’s intention to maintain their winning approach in the Elite Group, aiming to replicate their success from the Plate Group. He dismissed concerns about Bihar’s performance in elite competition, citing past victories and expressing confidence in the team’s abilities to compete effectively.
Acknowledging the support of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), Gani credited their preparatory efforts for the team’s success, highlighting the impact of a pre-final training camp organized by the association.
