Kalyani’s cricket faithful witnessed a masterclass from Bengal on the fourth day of their Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 quarterfinal against Andhra. With a commanding lead already in the bag, Bengal stands on the brink of an innings victory, eyeing a semifinal spot.
Andhra crumbled to 295 in their first innings, but Bengal responded with a mammoth 629, forging a 334-run advantage. By stumps on day four, Andhra staggered to 64 for 3 in their second dig, still 270 runs adrift. The equation is simple: one strong bowling session on the final day could seal Bengal’s triumph.
Captain Ricky Bhui top-scored for Andhra with 83 in the first innings, backed by Shikar Bharat’s 47 and Sheikh Rashid’s 46. Bengal’s bowlers shone bright—Mukesh Kumar claimed a five-wicket haul, Akash Deep grabbed four, and Mohammed Shami chipped in with one.
Bengal’s batting fireworks were led by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s breathtaking 299, laced with 31 fours and six sixes. Shakir Habib smashed 95, Sumant Gupta added 81, and Shami contributed 53. Sheikh Rashid fought back with 4 wickets for Andhra.
In the second innings, CR Gyaneswar made 20, Abhishek Reddy 5, and Sheikh Rashid 8 before departing. Bhui remains not out on 18, but the writing is on the wall.
Victory here propels the winners into a semifinal clash with Jammu & Kashmir on February 15, who edged Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs in the previous quarterfinal. Bengal’s dominance underscores their championship pedigree in domestic cricket’s grandest stage.