Bengal made a winning start to their 2026–27 Ranji Trophy campaign with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Delhi in their Group C encounter.
Mohammed Shami was among the wickets as Bengal’s disciplined bowling attack helped the team secure a comprehensive win in front of the home crowd on Day Four.
Bengal claimed a vital victory in the domestic first-class competition, while Gujarat also registered a bonus-point win in their opening match after defeating Odisha by 10 wickets.
Mohammed Shami Helps Bengal Secure a Comprehensive Win
Delhi were bowled out for 240 in their first innings after Bengal elected to bowl.
Shami led the attack with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar also made valuable contributions.
Bengal responded with a commanding total of 429, establishing a first-innings lead of 189 runs. Abhishek Porel scored an unbeaten 149, while Sudip Kumar Gharami contributed a well-made 133.
The pair added 212 runs for the third wicket, putting Bengal firmly in control of the contest.
Delhi were dismissed for 277 in their second innings, leaving Bengal with a target of just 89 runs to secure victory.
Bengal Complete a Comfortable Chase on the Final Day
Chasing 89 runs, Bengal reached the target after losing just one wicket to seal a nine-wicket victory in their opening match of the tournament.
The hosts completed the chase comfortably, bringing their impressive performance to a successful conclusion. T
he result gave Bengal an important early boost in the Ranji Trophy campaign.
Their strong batting display, combined with Shami’s impact and the efforts of the bowling unit, proved decisive in securing the win.
Gujarat Secure a Bonus-Point Victory Over Odisha
Gujarat produced a strong all-round performance to register a 10-wicket victory over Odisha in their Group C fixture.
Left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai played a key role, claiming five wickets for 36 runs as Odisha were bowled out for 161 in their second innings.
With only 47 runs required for victory, Gujarat completed the chase without losing a wicket.
Their emphatic result earned them a bonus point and provided a positive start to their campaign.
Pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla also made a valuable contribution to Gujarat’s bowling effort.
Bengal and Gujarat Begin Their Ranji Trophy Campaigns with Wins
Bengal recorded a commanding nine-wicket victory over Delhi, while Gujarat defeated Odisha by 10 wickets to secure a bonus point.
Shami’s experience with the ball and Bengal’s strong batting performance helped the team complete a comfortable chase, while Desai’s five-wicket haul proved crucial for Gujarat.
Both teams will aim to build on their winning starts as the Ranji Trophy competition progresses.
Consistent performances with both bat and ball will be important as they look to collect more points in the tournament.