Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign ended in heartbreak despite high expectations this season. After last year’s group-stage exit, fans had hoped for a turnaround, especially with Mohammad Shami and Sudip Kumar Gharami in fine form from the outset. However, persistent batting failures once again proved costly. Shami’s impressive eight-wicket haul ultimately went in vain as Bengal fell short.
Jammu and Kashmir chased down the modest target of 126 with ease, losing only four wickets to seal a six-wicket victory. The win propelled Aquib Nabi’s side into the Ranji Trophy final for the first time, bringing them closer to a historic achievement. Meanwhile, Laxmiratan Shukla’s Bengal were left dejected after suffering defeat on home soil.
Bengal's batting failure
Thanks to Sudip Kumar Gharami's 146-run innings, Bengal scored 328 batting first in the first innings. In reply, Jammu-Kashmir's first innings ended at 302 runs. Mohammad Shami single-handedly brought Bengal back into the match by taking eight wickets. Bengal had a lead of 26 runs. But in the second innings, Laxmiratan Shukla's team faced a batting collapse.
Five cricketers returned with single-digit scores. Anushtup Majumdar (12), Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (14), Shakir Habib Gandhi (10) and Mohammad Shami (11) crossed the 10-run mark. Shahbaz Ahmed scored the highest for Bengal. He made 24 runs. Overall, Bengal was bowled out for 99 runs in the second innings.
