In a commanding display at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur, Uttarakhand stormed into the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 semifinals by thrashing Jharkhand by an innings and 6 runs in the quarterfinal clash. This emphatic victory sets up an exciting semifinal showdown against Karnataka, scheduled to commence on February 15.
Jharkhand, invited to bat first after losing the toss, struggled to build momentum in their first innings, folding for a modest 235. Aditya Singh anchored the innings with a gritty 83, smashing 11 boundaries, while skipper Virat Singh contributed 47 with five fours. Uttarakhand’s bowlers dominated, led by Janmejay Joshi’s haul of 4 wickets, supported by Aditya Rawat and Mayank Mishra who each claimed 3 scalps.
Uttarakhand responded with authority, piling up 371 in their first dig. Jagdish Suchit top-scored with 70, featuring six boundaries, as Captain Kunal Chandela (68) and Avnish Sudha (64) provided solid support. Jharkhand’s bowlers fought back with Jatin Pandey, Sahil Raj, Saurabh Shekhar, and Aditya Singh picking up two wickets apiece.
Boasting a 136-run lead, Uttarakhand’s bowlers ran riot in Jharkhand’s second innings, bundling them out for just 130 in 41.1 overs. Virat Singh fought valiantly with 55 off 87 balls, including a six and six fours, and Kumar Kushagra added 34, but the rest crumbled. Mayank Mishra starred with 5/22, Abhay Negi grabbed 4 wickets, and Aditya Rawat took one.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, Jammu & Kashmir defeated Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs and will face the winner of Andhra Pradesh vs Bengal in the semis. Karnataka edged out Mumbai by 4 wickets to secure their spot. Uttarakhand’s clinical performance underscores their credentials as serious contenders for the title.