Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy campaign commenced with a resounding innings and 70-run victory over Saurashtra, a formidable force in domestic cricket. The triumph was orchestrated by the brilliance of left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh, who claimed a six-wicket haul in Saurashtra’s second innings, dismissing them for a paltry 94 runs.
Gurjapneet’s devastating spell proved too much for Saurashtra’s renowned batting lineup, including veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Sheldon Jackson. His remarkable figures of 14-5-22-6 included the crucial wickets of Chirag Jani, Arpit Vasavada, and Prerak Mankad.
The foundation for Tamil Nadu’s victory was laid in the first innings, where their bowlers restricted Saurashtra to 203. In response, Tamil Nadu’s batsmen asserted their dominance, with Narayan Jagadeesan leading the charge with a century. Sai Sudharsan contributed a solid 82, while Pradosh Ranjan Paul chipped in with 49, helping Tamil Nadu post an imposing 367 on the board.
When Saurashtra came out to bat again, they faced immense pressure. Gurjapneet struck early, removing Cheteshwar Pujara for a six-ball duck. Despite efforts to recover the pitch after heavy rainfall, the conditions favored Tamil Nadu’s seamers, and Gurjapneet exploited them to the fullest.
Saurashtra’s batting collapse handed Tamil Nadu a massive innings victory, securing all seven points from the game. The win marks an ideal start for the team as they set their sights on their next match against Delhi on October 18.
