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Punjab qualified for the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 after hammering Madhya Pradesh by 183 runs in the third quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) ground in Bengaluru on Tuesday, January 13. Prabhsimran Singh-led Punjab produced a brilliant all-round display to outclass Venkatesh Iyer's MP in the knockout clash.
Asked to bat first, Punjab rode on half-centuries from skipper Prabhsimran (88), Anmolpreet Singh (70) and Nehal Wadhera (56) to post a strong total of 345 runs on the board in 50 overs. The bowlers then ran riot to bundle out Madhya Pradesh for a paltry 162 runs and secure a thumping 183-run victory for their team.
Pacers Sanveer Singh and Gurnoor Brar were the pick of the bowlers for Punjab with five wickets between them. The duo combined to run through Madhya Pradesh's top order during their 346-run chase at the BCCI CoE ground in Bengaluru. Brar dismissed MP opener Yash Dubey cheaply on 3 off 10 balls to draw the first blood for his team in the 5th over.
He struck again in the 9th over to dismiss Dubey's opening partner Himanshu Mantri cheaply on 18, before Sanvir got rid of no.3 Shubham Sharma on 24 off 36 balls to leave MP reeling on 57/3. Sanvir trapped Venkatesh Iyer lbw on a duck in the same over to pile more misery on Madhya Pradesh.
Despite a fighting 38 from senior batter Rajat Patidar and a 30-ball 31 from Tripuresh Singh in the lower middle order, there was no way back for MP as they were eventually skittled out for 167 runs in just 31.2 overs. Sanvir finished with excellent figures of 3/31 off his 6 overs, while Brar picked up 2 wickets while conceding 27 runs off his 6.4 overs.
Thanks to their brilliant bowling effort, Punjab entered the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy after missing out on a spot in the top four the previous season, following their loss in the quarter-finals. Punjab will now take on Saurashtra in the second semi-final of VHT 2025-26 at the BCCI CoE ground in Bengaluru on January 16.
Punjab display batting firepower against Madhya Pradesh
With one of the most destructive batting line-ups in the tournament, Punjab flexed their muscles during their quarter-final clash against Madhya Pradesh. Skipper Prabhsimran led from the front with his 88 off 86 balls, laced with 10 fours and two sixes, while Harnoor Singh, Anmolpreet and Wadhera also slammed brisk half-centuries.
Opening the batting together, Harnoor and Prabhsimran added 116 runs for the first wicket to get Punjab off to a flyer. Harnoor scored 51 off 71 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and a six. After his dismissal, Prabhsimran added 39 runs for the 2nd wicket with Anmolpreet, whose 70 off 62 ball was studded with 8 fours and two sixes.
Wadhera added the finishing touches to Punjab's innings with his 56 off 38 balls, studded with 8 fours and a six. Ramandeep Singh also produced a vital cameo of an unbeaten 15-ball 24 to help Punjab post a huge total of 345 runs on the board. Punjab will aim to continue their batting dominance when they take on Saurashtra in the semi-final on January 16.
In the 4th quarter-final, Vidarbha thrashed Delhi by 76 runs at the BCCI CoE Ground 2 in Bengaluru to enter the semi-finals of the Vijzay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 on Tuesday. Vidarbha rode on an impressive 86-run knock from middle order batter Yash Rathod and half-century from opener Atharva Taide (62) to post 300 runs on the board in 50 overs and defended the total successfully to win the game comfortably.
Delhi crumbled under pressure in the 301-run chase after a poor start and failed to nail down the target despite a fighting 66 from wicket-keeper batter Anuj Rawat in the lower middle order. Vidarbha will now take on Karnataka in the first semi-final on January 15.
