Ranji Trophy 2026/27: Vihaan’s part-time spell traps Hyderabad, handing Punjab advantage

Punjab's Vihaan Malhotra celebrates the wicket of Hyderabad's K. Himateja during the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite match. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Fortune in cricket is a fickle landlord, always one session from changing the locks.

For a while at the Gymkhana Ground on Wednesday, Hyderabad held the keys, erasing the deficit to Punjab with calm, methodical work. Then Vihaan Malhotra, a part-timer, took it by storm with a four-wicket spell and the home side was bundled out for 380, and the visitor was 51 runs to the good in their Ranji Trophy contest.

The proceedings began with a jolt for Punjab, as Umesh Yadav appeared to pick up a groin injury in the seventh over of day three. Ten overs later, it was Hyderabad’s turn to wince. Rahul Radesh (86, 195b, 9x4) tried to cut, got a thin edge, and Salil Arora pouched it behind the stumps.

K. Himateja then took charge, reaching his fifty in 108 balls. But almost against the run of play, Punjab landed a blow 15 minutes before lunch when Harjas Singh trapped Varun Goud leg before.

Then came the second session, where the match seemingly slipped from Hyderabad’s fingers like sand, losing its last six wickets for just 37 runs.

Ranji Trophy Round 3, Day 3 - As it happened

Uday Saharan turned to the off-spin of Vihaan for the first time in the match, and it proved a masterstroke. The 19-year-old struck with his second ball, trapping Himateja (81, 168b, 5x4, 3x6) leg before. He later breached C.V. Milind’s defence, while Emanjot Singh replicated the same with Ruthik Yadav. Vihaan soon sent Tanay packing, and the Punjab dugout erupted.

Hyderabad's K Himateja ground out an 81 before falling to Vihaan. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Amid the freefall, Pragnay Reddy stood defiant, lofting a six over extra cover to bring up his half-century. At the other end, Aniketh Reddy fell after a sharp catch by Uday at first slip.

Pragnay refused to ease off, clearing the boundary over cover and straight down the ground to keep Punjab guessing. But the urgency proved his undoing, holing out to substitute Sanveer Singh at long-on.

By stumps, Vihaan and Harnoor Singh patiently doubled Punjab’s lead to 108 runs.

The scores

Punjab - 1st innings: 431

Hyderabad - 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Jashanpreet b Harpreet 2, Abhirath Reddy c Salil b Umesh 97, Rahul Radesh c Salil b Harjas 86, K. Himateja lbw b Vihaan 81, Varun Goud lbw b Harjas 25, Pragnay Reddy c Sanvir b b Emanjot 65, C.V. Milind b Vihaan 2, Ruthik Yadav b Emanjot 1, Tanay Thyagarajann lbw b Vihaan 2, Aniketh Reddy c Uday b Vihaan, Rakshann Readdi (batting) 0; Extras (b-10, lb-7, nb-1): 18; Total (in 119.5 overs): 380

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-169, 3-234, 4-279, 5-343, 6-347, 7-348, 8-383, 9-365

Punjab bowling: Umesh 15.4-4-32-1, Harpreet 36-2-139-1, Emanjot 34.5-7-86-2, Harjas 25.2-3-85-2, Uday 2-0-6-0, Vihaan 6-0-15-4

Punjab - 2nd innings: Vihaan Malhotra (batting) 26, Harnoor Singh (batting) 27; Extras (b-4): 4; Total (for zero wickets in 24 overs): 57

Hyderabad bowling: Milind 3-1-9-0, Ruthik 6-0-14-0, Tanay 9-0-21-0, Rakshann 4-1-7-0, Aniketh 2-0-2-0

Published on Oct 28, 2026

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