Vijay Hazare Trophy SF: Saurashtra Begins 292-Run Chase Against Punjab
Saurashtra and Punjab face off in the second semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26. This match takes place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru on January 16, 2026. Both teams aim to secure a spot in the final of India’s premier 50-over domestic cricket tournament.
Match Overview
Saurashtra advanced to the semi-finals after a narrow 17-run victory against Uttar Pradesh. That match, affected by rain, utilized the VJD method to determine the outcome. Meanwhile, Punjab dominated Madhya Pradesh, winning by a margin of 183 runs in their quarter-final.
Key Players
Saurashtra’s Lineup
- Harvik Desai (Captain, Wicketkeeper)
- Vishvaraj Jadeja
- Prerak Mankad
- Sammar Gajjar
- Chirag Jani
- Ruchit Ahir
- Parswaraj Rana
- Dharmendrasinh Jadeja
- Ankur Panwar
- Jaydev Unadkat
- Chetan Sakariya
Punjab’s Squad
- Prabhsimran Singh (Captain, Wicketkeeper)
- Harnoor Singh
- Anmolpreet Singh
- Naman Dhir
- Nehal Wadhera
- Ramandeep Singh
- Sanvir Singh
- Krish Bhagat
- Sukhdeep Bajwa
- Mayank Markande
- Gurnoor Brar
Match Progression
Saurashtra won the toss and chose to field first. Punjab’s innings began cautiously. However, they maintained a balanced pace with Prabhsimran Singh and Harnoor Singh laying a solid foundation. As the innings progressed, Prabhsimran’s aggressive batting helped push the team’s score higher.
Punjab reached a total of 291 runs after their 50 overs. Despite a great start with contributions from key players like Anmolpreet Singh, the lower order struggled significantly.
Saurashtra’s Chase Begins
Saurashtra started their chase for 292 runs with captain Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja opening the batting. A five-run penalty against Punjab for running on the pitch gave Saurashtra an early advantage. Gurnoor Brar from Punjab bowled a disciplined first over, conceding only three runs.
As the game unfolded, Saurashtra requires a strong batting display to meet the challenging target set by Punjab. The outcome of this match will determine who progresses to the final against Vidarbha, who defeated Karnataka in the other semi-final.
Key Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Runs Required by Saurashtra | 292 |
| Punjab’s Total Score | 291 all out |
| Match Date | January 16, 2026 |
Stay tuned for live updates as the match progresses and see if Saurashtra can chase down the target set by Punjab in this exciting semi-final clash.
