Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Tanay Thyagarajan shines with the ball as Hyderabad beats Andhra

Hyderabad began the final day smelling victory, and it took less than 27 overs to finish the job. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

Hard work leaves a trail, and on Wednesday it led to Mulapadu. Hyderabad’s Tanay Thyagarajan had spoken of his and the team’s best-ever preparation for a Ranji Trophy season, and his six wickets turned that talk into a 267-run win over Andhra at the ACA Stadium.

Hyderabad began the final day smelling victory, and it took less than 27 overs to finish the job. Home skipper Ricky Bhui was the first to go, Rahul Singh pouching a straightforward catch at gully. S.V. Rahul followed soon after, snapped up by Abhirath Reddy’s sharp reflex catch at short leg.

The drinks break offered Andhra a moment to regroup, but little changed when play resumed. In the 23rd over, Tanay struck twice in quick succession, trapping Hemanth Reddy leg before and then rattling Saurabh Kumar’s stumps.

With wickets tumbling despite a defensive approach, Revanth Reddy chose to counter-attack. He charged down the track, missed the turn and watched his middle stump go flying.

ALSO READ | Ranji Trophy: Mumbai secures second consecutive innings victory despite Himachal Pradesh’s resistance

Aniketh Reddy, whose two late strikes on day three had pegged Andhra back early in its second innings, then joined the party. T. Vijay went for the cut but failed to connect cleanly, and Tanmay Agarwal held on to the edge at first slip.

K.V. Sasikanth and Ruthik Yadav wrapped up the match before lunch, handing Hyderabad six points and a second consecutive win. The side now tops the Group B table with 13 points.

Tanay, who claimed 11 wickets in the match and added an unbeaten second-innings half-century (53 n.o., 64b, 2x4, 3x6), was a deserving Player of the Match, just as he was against Tripura last week.

Hyderabad’s season has found its rhythm, and its captain finds a new stage.

Mohammed Siraj, beaming and in high spirits, departs for New Zealand to join the Indian squad for the T20Is and Tests. C.V. Milind now takes the reins, and the chase for more continues when Hyderabad takes on Punjab at Gymkhana, starting October 26.