Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Bengal vs Haryana pre-quarterfinal | Haryana beat Bengal by 72 runs
In the pre-quarterfinal match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, Haryana entered the quarterfinals by defeating Bengal by 72 runs. Haryana scored 298 runs while playing first. In reply, Bengal was reduced to 226.
The defending champions Haryana defeated Bengal in the preliminary quarter-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday. With this, Haryana entered the quarterfinal round.
In the preliminary quarterfinal, Bengal won the toss and decided to bowl first. Haryana did not get a good start and Mukesh Kumar along with Mohammed Shami sent both the openers to the pavilion within 50.
Parth Shiv Vats (62) and Nishant Sindhu (64) took the team beyond 200. Sumit Kumar (41) and Rahul Tewatia (29) played important roles in taking Haryana closer to 300. Shami took 3 wickets while Mukesh Kumar took 2 wickets.
Shami bowled well
Shami ended with figures of 3/61 from his 10-over spell. The veteran seamer dismissed opener Himanshu Rana (14) before getting rid of Dinesh Bana (15) and Anshul Kamboj (4) at the death.
In 135 List A matches, Shami has raced to 257 wickets at 23-plus. 195 of his scalps in the 50-over format have come for India. Shami picked 5 wickets in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
Haryana won by 72 runs
Chasing the target of 299 runs, Bengal had a good start and both the openers made a partnership of 70 runs for the first wicket. After this, as soon as both the openers were out, Haryana bowlers wreaked havoc and bundled out the entire Bengal team for 226 runs.
Haryana won the pre-quarterfinal match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 by 72 runs. Parth Vats was chosen Player of the Match for taking 3 wickets and playing an important role in the team's victory. Apart from Parth, Nishant Sindhu and Anshul Kamboj took 2-2 wickets.
20-year-old Parth Vats, who made his debut for Haryana in List A cricket with the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, was superb versus Bengal. He hit six fours in his 77-ball knock. This was his 2nd fifty of the tournament. After 7 matches, he has amassed 234 runs at 39. His scores read as: 1, 27, 27, 52*, 18, 47, and 62.
Exclusive Bengal Cricket: New captain for the Railways match, Shami might not travel
Sudip Gharami might make his first-class captaincy debut in the match against Railways, starting from 8 November. Mohammed Shami is unlikely to travel with the squad.
Sudip Gharami might become Bengal's stand-in captain for the Railways match.
After returning with only one point against Tripura in Agaratala in their third match, Bengal will again, for the second time in this Ranji Trophy 2025-26 will have to look for a new captain. Not only that, they will have to add a new wicket-keeper batter after Abishek Porel’s India-A call-up for the Rising Star Asia Cup tournament in Qatar.
Mistakes cost Bengal six points
Okay, if not six, it definitely cost Bengal 3 points. Three dropped catches, and among them, three from the stand-in captain, Abishek Porel. Hanuma Vihari, who scored a three-point winning 141, was dropped twice by wicket-keeper Abishek Porel, one off Mohammed Kaif and one off his cousin brother Ishan Porel.
Later on, Anustup Majumdar could not hold on to a tough one of Vijay Shankar in the wide first slip as well. These mistakes allowed Tripura to make a comeback in the match. From 53/5, they scored 385 to earn their first point of the season.
If Bengal could hold onto those chances, they were surely in for six points, with Mohammed Kaif and Ishan Porel looking in rhythm, obviously alongside Mohammed Shami.
Sudip Gharami might become the captain for the Railways match
Gharami scored 108 against Tripura in the first inning.
Since Abishek Porel will be in the India-A team for the Rising Star Asia Cup, Bengal will have to look for a new captain for the second time in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 this season. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was named the captain ahead of the season, is currently unavailable till the Assam match due to India-A duties, and till then, Sudip Gharami might be made the captain of the side.
Sudip last year led Bengal in the white-ball format, and Bengal played in the knockouts of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well under his captaincy. Although there is Anustup Majumdar, who can be captain as well, it is unlikely that the 41-year-old batter would take the responsibility just for one match.
Now, to replace Abishek Porel, Bengal will not only need a captain, but they will have to add a wicket-keeper batter as well. Keepers like Agniv Pan, Suvankar Bal, who have first-class experience, can be options as well. Meantime, U-19 or U-23 keepers can be called up for the Railways too.
Shami might not travel to Surat
Shami went wicketless against Tripura.
During the press conference after the match against Gujarat, Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had said to the media that it is not possible to expect Mohammed Shami will play all the matches of the season. Now, after playing three consecutive matches and going wicketless for the first time this season against Tripura, there will be a question about his workload.
So, the calculations might end up with Mohammed Shami not travelling to Surat for the match against Railways. It is unlikely that Bengal will add some other bowlers from outside the current squad. In that case, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can come into the playing XI, with Sumit Mohanta continuing as a backup pacer.
Bengal will leave for Surat on 5th November.
When is the Railways vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match?
The Railways vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match will be played from 8th November 2025 to 11 November 2025 at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Tripura flips the story against fumbler Bengal, earns three points; tons from Vihari and Murasingh
Four dropped catches during the field from Bengal allowed Tripura to come back from 53/5 to score 385 in the first inning to secure three points at home. Hanuma Vihari scored 141 while Manisankar Murasingh remained unbeaten on 102.
The game was hanging in the balance despite a fantastic finish to Day 2 by the hosts, Tripura, against mighty Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Elite Group C clash at Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium in Agartala. But, on the final day of the match, Tripura made sure they would earn their first point of the season - that too, three against a star-studded Bengal lineup.
Equation before the start on Day 4
The equation before the start of Day 4 was that Bengal would need 3 wickets for three points while Tripura required 63 runs to earn the same. For Bengal, it was Mohammed Shami and the new ball, while for Tripura, it was the partnership between captain Manisankar Murasingh and Hanuma Vihari, which was supposed to decide the match.
No swing with the new ball for Bengal
Murasingh pulling one short ball from Ishan Porel.
As planned, Bengal took the new ball in the third over of the day after Shami and Ishan Porel warmed up with one over each with the older ball. However, there was not much effect with the brand-new ball.
While everyone expected Shami to run through the tail, it was Manisankar Murasingh who got some quick early runs to take the target below fifty for Tripura, and reached his fifty too. The new ball did not swing or seam, which was of no help to the Bengal bowlers.
Shami changed angles, but was not able to challenge both the batters and create any chance for Bengal. Soon, Bengal’s most successful bowler in this match, Mohammed Kaif, replaced Ishan Porel from the City End, and he leaked some boundaries, which did not help the cause either.
However, Shami was replaced by Ishan Porel, from the Pavilion End, and that resulted in a dismissal for Bengal. Hanuma Vihari, who was earlier dropped off Ishan Porel when the batter was on 53 on Day 3, was able to hit him in front of the wicket and get the desired result from the umpire.
Ishan Porel celebrating the wicket of Hanuma Vihari, Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
Tension rose at the ground, and for everyone following the match, with the new equation being 21 needed for Tripura and 2 wickets needed for Bengal. A few hundred present at the ground along with some U-19 Tripura cricketers gave Hanuma Vihari a standing ovation for his 141, his first big knock for Tripura.
Roar from Murasingh after Tripura got the first-innings lead.
Even though Tripura lost the previous two games and batters did not do well, the murmur in the gallery was that both Rana Dutta and Abhijit Sarkar can also bat, which meant Tripura nearly have 11 batters in the team.
Although Abhijit was supposed to come at No.10, captain Murasingh wanted Rana Dutta, as he wanted two lefties in the middle since neither Ishan Porel nor Mohammed Kaif was able to bring the ball back into the lefties.
Bengal’s plan to keep the field open for Murasingh helped him get some easy singles while Rana looked comfortable even against Mohammed Shami, who returned for his 8th spell of the inning. Shami tested the pacer with some bouncers, which he negotiated very well.
Desperate Bengal tried their final weapon as they brought off-spinner Rahul Prasad with Tripura needed 9 runs to earn three points. Rana Dutta took the first single, and then Murasingh hit back-to-back boundaries to give them the lead. A roar from the all-rounder and a cheer from the dugout proved how important it was for them.
Murasingh after reaching his 5th first-class ton.
Rana was crucial in that 20, as he added 11 of them to ensure their lead. Finally, Rahul Prasad dismissed Rana on 27, and Murasingh took his chance to hit a six off Shahbaz Ahmed to get to his fifth first-class ton, before they were bowled out for 385, with a lead of 49.
Three important points for Tripura!
It is their captain incredible Manisankar Murasingh, who hits the important boundary to earn their first point of this campaign.
Bengal would be hugely disappointed but they have been outplayed here.
Although everything was settled with both teams knowing the end result, Tripura bowlers made sure they gave their home fans a reason to stay for a bit longer.
Rana Dutta, after his heroics with the bat, struck in the first over to dismiss Sudip Kumar Gharami, the centurion from the first inning, on duck. Then Abhijit Sarkar trapped Kazi Juanid Saifi in front of the wicket on a duck to make it a pair for the left-handed top-order batter. At 0/2, scenes looked scary for Bengal.
Abhijit Sarkar made it worse by dismissing Habib Gandhi with a short ball, which came at an awkward height for the left-hander as he went to pull the ball. The scoreboard said 13/3, trailed by 36. Tripura might have gone on to create something miraculous if Hrituraj Ghosh Roy had not dropped an easy catch at short midwicket off Abhitjit Sarkar, just two balls later.
Eventually, Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed took Bengal out of misery. Teams shook hands after Shahbaz reached his fifty, with Bengal finishing on 90/3.
Bengal now dropped to third place in the group while Tripura rose one spot up to No.7 after their three points. Bengal will next face Railways, while Tripura will host Assam from 8th November. Bengal will reach Kolkata before boarding a flight for Surat tomorrow, on Wednesday.
Bengal 0/2
Sudip Gharami and Kazi Junaid Saifi went for ducks!
Hanuma Vihari was awarded the Player of the Match.
Post-match, Tripura captain Manisankar Murasingh told Sportz Point that he knew there would be no swing on the final day, even with the new ball. That is why he was confident that if he could get his eye in early, three points were on the cards.
“I have grown up playing here. I knew there would be no swing or seam, even with the new ball. I got a few early boundaries, which helped us get closer to the target. This is a great comeback by the team after two defeats. It was a near-perfect game for us,” Murasinggh told.
Player of the match Hanuma Vihari shared that the battle against Mohammed Shami needed to be won early on Day 4. Moreover, he appreciated the fact that the aggressive nature of Murasingh helped him play in his own style during their 116-run partnership.
“It was a great battle with Shami. The conditions were in my favour in this match, which is why I won the battle. Tripura have been doing well in the last few seasons, and after these three points, the team would be more confident,” Hanuma told Sportz Point.
Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 recap: Tripura shocks Bengal with tons from Vihari and Mura; Tripura 3, Bengal 1
Read the highlights of the Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match from M.B.B Stadium in Agartala, Tripura, as Hanuma Vihari's 141 and Murasingh's 102* helped Tripura come from 53/5 to earn three points.
Hello and welcome to the LIVE blog of Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match at Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium in Agartala.
This is Koushik Biswas, who will be reporting from the ground for you with all the latest updates, news, scores, images and free commentary.
Bengal have won their first two games and are sitting at number two on the points table while Tripura have lost both of their matches and are at number 8 on the points table.
Mohammed Shami vs Hanuma Vihari and Vijay Shankar will be a key battle to watch out for.
LIVE Updates
Nov 4, 2025, 11:36 AM
Teams shook hands | Tripura 3, Bengal 1
Teams decided to shake hands after Shahbaz Ahmed reached his fifty.
Bengal finished the second inning on 90/3.
Tripura will be delighted with the 3 points from being 53/5, while Bengal had a shocker on the field and will have to be satisfied with 1 point.
Hanuma Vihari was named the player of the match for his 141.
Eventually, Bengal take the lead in the second inning.
Shahbaz moves to 19 with a smashing boundary. Bengal 51/1 after 16 overs. Anustup unbeaten on 25.
Nov 4, 2025, 6:53 AM
Hrituraj drops a sitter
Hrituraj drops a sitter in short mid-wicket as Shahbaz Ahmed, who came to bat higher up the order, hit the pull shot staright to him.
Bengal 13/3.
Nov 4, 2025, 6:52 AM
Bengal 13/3
Abhijit Sarkar bangs one short and Gandhi could not get away from it and went for a half pull.
Bengal 13/3, trailing by 36.
Nov 4, 2025, 6:50 AM
Bengal in trouble | 0/2
Oh my god, are we going to have a result?
Rana Dutta dismissed Sudip Gharami on duck, and Abhijit Sarkar trapped Kazi Juanid Saifi for a duck to make the scoreboard 0/2. Bengal still trail by 49 runs.
Nov 4, 2025, 5:22 AM
Tripura 385 in the first inning
Ishan Porel gets the final wicket of Abhijit Sarkar as Murasingh remained unbeaten on 102.
Tripura with a lead of 49.
We will come back after the break.
Nov 4, 2025, 5:20 AM
Fifth first-class hundred for Murasingh
And, he does it in style. A huge six over deep mid-wicket off Shahbaz Ahmed!
He gets a standing ovation. He is everyone's favourite here in Tripura, everyone's captain magnificent, Murasingh.
Tripura 385, lead by 49.
Nov 4, 2025, 4:54 AM
Three points for Tripura
It is their captain, magnificent Manisankar Murasingh, who punches the air in joy as Tripura get their first point of the season.
After two consecutive defeats, this will be a huge return to their home in Agartala.
Tripura take the three points and Bengal will have to be happy with one point.
Three important points for Tripura!
It is their captain incredible Manisankar Murasingh, who hits the important boundary to earn their first point of this campaign.
Bengal would be hugely disappointed but they have been outplayed here.
Mohammed Shami comes back into the attack which would be his last chance to help Bengal three points.
Length ball, one play and miss, one bouncer, one run out chance - which Shahbaz Ahmed missed.
All happened in that 92nd over from Shami. Tripura 320/8.
Nov 4, 2025, 4:04 AM
Ishan is injured
Right after taking the wicket, Ishan Porel gets injured.
Looks like it is his old ankle again.
He is getting the medical attention. Bengal would not want to give away the momentum.
Tripura 316/8, trail by 20.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:59 AM
Huge wicket!
Ishan Porel traps Hanuma Vihari in front of the wicket, and the umpire takes a long time but only to raise the finger.
Vihari gets a standing ovation.
He goes after a solid 141.
Tripura 316/8, trail by 20.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:57 AM
Back to back boundaries from Mura
Two half volleys and Murasingh hits them for four.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:53 AM
Spin into the attack
In the 89th over of the innings, Shahbaz comes into the attack from City End.
Tripura trail by 34 runs.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:45 AM
300 up for Tripura
Till now both the Tripura batters have looked solid and unchallenged.
They cross 300. 37 needed.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:30 AM
No swing or seam movement from Shami
The star India pacer has already bowled three overs - two with the new ball. He has not been able to get any swing or seam movement so far.
Vihari has looked to play everything as if it is coming as an inswinger, while Murasingh has looked to score runs whenever it is available for him.
Tripura 290/4, trail by 46.
Nov 4, 2025, 3:28 AM
The target for Tripura now goes below fifty. They would be confident now to get these three points from Bengal.
Vihari and Murasingh looked solid against the new ball, and Bengal has been forced to keep an in-and-out field to have a mix of aggression and defence.#RanjiTrophy
Big day. Three points on the line. Bengal to take the new ball after two overs. 63 needed for Tripura, 3 wickets for Bengal.
Nov 3, 2025, 11:46 AM
End of Day 3: Tripura 273/7
It has been a fascinating day of cricket where we saw Bengal dominate with the ball early in the day, and then Tripura come back with an incredible ton from Hanuma Vihari and support from Vijay Shankar and Manishankar Murasingh.
Bengal will look to take the remaining wicket with the new ball.
Day 3 ended with Tripura trailing by 63 and Bengal need 3 wickets for three points.
Hanuma Vihari is unbeaten on 121 along with Murasingh, who is not out on 42.
We will have an exciting day of cricket tomorrow.
Nov 3, 2025, 10:32 AM
Tripura closing in! | 263/7
Murasingh and Vihari's partnership now moves to 63 as they keep on closing the gap between them and Bengal.
Tripura is now close to the valuable three points, if they can continue this partnership.
Bengal have spread the field while Mursingh is looking to big if there is anything in his half. A cat-and-mouse game is going on between him and Shahbaz Ahmed.
Tripura 263/7, trailing by 74 only.
Nov 3, 2025, 9:55 AM
Vihari scores hi 25th First-class ton
Hanuma Vihari scores his 25th First-class ton. He looked in great touch after getting dropped twice early in the match.
He has been the lone fighter for Tripura. He has saved them from a follow-on scare.
25th First-class ton for Hanuma Vihari!
Vihari scores his first century of the season for his new state, Tripura!
He was dropped twice but capitalised on the life he was given by Bengal.
Finally, Abishek Porel holds onto one. Bengal gets the big wicket of Vijay Shankar.
Kaif bowled it short ,and Shankar, who was having issues with his hamstring, went for the pull and managed a top edge.
Porel, who came back to the field as a fielder, moved from long off and took a good catch to dismiss him. Shabaz had gone for the catch too. But, it was Porel who grabbed the catch.
107-run partnership is finally broken. Kaif gets his fourth. Tripura 200/7.
Nov 3, 2025, 9:01 AM
Anustup is leading the Bengal team
Anustup Majumdar is leading the Bengal team in absence of Abishek Porel.
Nov 3, 2025, 8:48 AM
Tripura 199/6 at tea
Only one wicket for Bengal in the second session, despite Mohammed Kaif and Ishan Porel producing as many as three chances for them.
Porel dropped two while there was a tough chance for Anustup at the first slip.
Vijay Shankar is nearing his first ton of the season. He is unbeaten on 95. Shankar is not out on 33.
Tripura 199/6
Nov 3, 2025, 8:31 AM
Chance for Anustup
Mohammed Kaif was able to produce the outside edge of Vijay Shankar. Flown quickly to Anustup, who was a wide from first slip.
Though he tried his best to hang on to the catch, it went for a boundary.
Shankar was on 24.
Tripura 179/6.
Nov 3, 2025, 8:18 AM
Poor day on the field for Abishek Porel
He missed another straightforward ball as he could not grab the ball and hit his right leg, and went for a four.
He looks injured and down. Shakir Habib Gandhi, who is also a wicket-keeper, is replacing him behind the stumps.
A ball from Mohammed Kaif hit Abishek Porel’s left leg and he was forced to leave the field on Day 3 of Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match.
Shakir Habib Gandhi has replaced him behind the stumps.
The middle-order batter, who has played 12 Tests for India, has looked to score runs on any bad ball Bengal bowlers have bowled.
Room - outside off, or slightly overpitched at the pads, Vihari has hit boundaries. He moves to 78, and Shankar is there with him on 25.
Tripur 169/6.
Nov 3, 2025, 7:50 AM
Vihari gets another life!
This would be frustrating for Bengal. They are cruising and have now given Tripura an opening to make a comeback in the match.
Ishan Porel, who was bowled really well from the City End, produced the outside edge of Hanuma Vihari, who was batting on 53.
It was going quickly but definitely a regulation catch for Abishek Porel, who could not believe himself after dropping the sitter. Ishan, the bowler and his brother, was not happy with that drop and looked frustrated as well.
Tripura 143/6.
Nov 3, 2025, 7:30 AM
Vijay Shankar is injured!
Vijay Shankar has some hamstring issues and was seen limping during the running between the wickets too.
He has hit three boundaries and is unbeaten on 19 off 20.
Hanuma plays one down the ground and gets to his fifty. Apart from one chance off Kaif, he has looked good. Interestingly, he has looked to score some quick runs, especially against the spinners.
Vijay Shankar is unbeaten on 7 at the other end. Tripura 117/6.
Nov 3, 2025, 6:48 AM
Porel drops Vihari!
It was low to his right and was going at a quick pace. He tried his best to get to the ball and nearly grabbed a spectacular one to dismiss Vihari.
He would be disappointed to miss this one.
Kaif has been excellent and he has been able to prodcue edges, even against Vihari.
Tripura 93/7.
Nov 3, 2025, 6:46 AM
Debutant gets debutant
Rahul Prasad dismisses Sentu Sarkar for his maiden first-class wicket.
He trapped Sentu in front of the wicket and he went for 20.
Tripura 93/6.
Nov 3, 2025, 6:36 AM
Vihari and Sentu looking good!
Hanuma Vihari and debutant Sentu Sarkar's partnership now moves to 32 off 57 balls.
Sentu, the youngster, has looked good and also pulled some bouncers from Shami as well.
Shami, in return, also patted him on the back for his courage and skill.
Tripura 85/5.
Sentu 15*, Vihari 30.
Nov 3, 2025, 5:53 AM
Tripura 65/5 at lunch, Day 3
Tripura 65/5 at lunch on Day 3. Vihari is unbeaten on 18, and Sentu is at the other end, unbeaten on 7.
Nov 3, 2025, 5:22 AM
Shami comes back for another spell!
Third spell for Shami in the first session of the day. He comes back from the City end, from where his brother has taken three wickets. Bengal is looking to get Vihari out before the lunch.
Tripura 57/5.
Nov 3, 2025, 5:05 AM
Shahbaz gets the better of Swapnil Singh!
Even after getting hit for a six by Hanuman Vihari, Shahbaz was not afraid to pitch to ball up against Swapnil Singh.
He cleans up the stumps and half of the Tripura batting lineup is back in the pavilion.
Tripura 53/5.
Nov 3, 2025, 4:53 AM
Spin into the attack for the first time!
Bengal brings Shahbaz Ahmed into the attack for the first time in this spin.
Yesterday, we saw the ball spin and had a low bounce as well. Let's see how much effect Shahbaz can have on this pitch.
He gets one to nip back and rattle the stumps of Sridam Paul. Then, just two balls later, he trapped Bikramjit Debnath in front of the wicket with another inswinger.
Tripura 35/4.
Photo of the day already!
Mohammed Kaif, the brother of Mohammed Shami cleans up the stumps of Tripura batter Sridam Paul on Day 2 of Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 in Agartala.
He cleans up Hrituraj Ghosh Roy's stumps with a perfect inswinger.
Bengal now smells the flesh.
Tripura 29/2,
Nov 3, 2025, 4:35 AM
Kaif gets Bikram!
After playing off the first spell of Mohammed Shami, somehow, the Tripura batters were relieved. And that worked against them.
Mohammed Kaif, who replaced his own brother from the City End, bowled around off-stump, and Bikram, who tried to fend the ball away towards third man, played it down onto the stumps.
Tripura 29/1.
Nov 3, 2025, 3:07 AM
Bengal all-out | 336
Bengal could only add one more to their overnight score and Tripura took only five balls to get their desired last wicket.
Bengal 336 all out and finally the fans will get to see Mohammed Shami in action.
Nov 3, 2025, 3:04 AM
Day 3 | Good morning
Good morning from Day 3 of the match. There is lots of cloud covered in the sky and chances of rain is also there.
Nov 2, 2025, 10:56 AM
End of Day 2: Bengal 335/9
Only 116 overs were played in two days here in Agaratal, and Bengal finished Day 2 on 335/9.
Shahbaz remained unbeaten on 40 and will have to wait until tomorrow morning to know if they will declare overnight or not.
Good comeback from the hosts as they were able to take wickets at crucial moments.
Nov 2, 2025, 10:48 AM
Shami goes for 5!
Bikram gets his second wicket as Shami gives an easy back to the bowler catch to him.
Shami goes for 5.
Bengal 335/9.
Nov 2, 2025, 10:34 AM
Kaif goes for a duck | BEN 325/8
Bikram gets the better off Kaif. He cleans up the off-stump.
There was a big delay to check whether the wicket-keeper Sentu had clipped the bails off or not.
But, evantually it was given as a out.
Bengal 325/8.
Nov 2, 2025, 10:26 AM
Rahul gone on 35; Bengal 322/7
Swapnil Singh drags the ball on the stump and loses his stumps.
His debut inning comes to an end. He looked good. But it is the end to his inning.
Bengal 322/7. Shahbaz is batting on 32.
Nov 2, 2025, 10:13 AM
Bengal going after the spin | 318/6
Rahul Prasad now moves to 34 with a big shot against Bikram Das, who floated the ball up, took the risk to go for a boundary.
Shabhaz is on 28 and Bengal move to 318/5.
Nov 2, 2025, 9:44 AM
Rahul crushing some boundaries
Rahul Prasad, the debutant, has looked confident and has already hit four boundaries - the pull against Murasingh was one to watch out for sure.
Shahbaz has played the second fiddle in this partnership.
Rahul on 28, Shahbaz on 15.
Bengal 299/5.
Nov 2, 2025, 9:00 AM
Porel gone on 11 | Bengal 262/6
Rana Dutta gets another.
Around the wicket, he was able to bring the ball in and got the inside edge of Porel's bat.
Another low catch taken by Sentu. Umpires had to consult whether it had been carried or not. Finally, it was given as out.
Porel look dissapointed.
Bengal 262/5. Rahul Prasad, the debutant walks in.
Nov 2, 2025, 8:39 AM
Tea, Day 2: Bengal 258/5
Bengal finished the session with 87 runs, losing 4 wickets.
Good comeback from Tripura. Bengal will now look at bat as long as possible to first secure the three points.
Nov 2, 2025, 8:37 AM
Rana gets Sumanta!
Rana Dutta gets his second wicket of the match.
An absolute crack of a delivery. The inswinger at the top of offstump was too good for Sumanta to defend.
Bengal 255/5
Nov 2, 2025, 8:01 AM
Anustup gone
Murasingh gets Anustup.
Gentle outswinger around 4th stump and wicketkeeper Sentu took a low catch to dismiss him.
There was a confusion on whether the ball carried or not, but the umpire was sure about the catch.
Nov 2, 2025, 7:55 AM
6th first class ton for Sudip Gharami
With a scoop, Sudip Gharami gets to his 6th first-class ton.
After giving a chance on 20, he looked solid and did not allow the Tripura bowlers to make a comeback.
A well-deserved ton for the right-handed batter.
This is the first ton of the season from any Bengal batter.
Nov 2, 2025, 7:07 AM
Heartbreaking for Habib Gandhi
On 95, he casually lifted an inswinging ball towards the deep square leg and could not control the bat flow. Just like Sudip Chatterjee against Uttarakhand, he gets dismissed on 95.
Rajat Dey with the catch.
Habib will have to wait for his maiden first-class ton now.
Bengal 213/1
HEARTBROKEN 💔
Shakir Habib Gandhi, who was looking for his maiden first-class ton, tried to flick on off his pads and was caught at deep square leg off Murasingh on 95.
Sudip Gharami is now on 91 while Habib is milking it away and is on 95.
Bengal 213 after 73 overs.
Nov 2, 2025, 6:52 AM
Swapnil keeps on teasing Habib
The left-arm spinner keeps on teasing the left-handed batter, as from around the wicket, he keeps on bowling outside off stump, enticing a big shot from Habib.
However, Habib was cool enough to see off the whole over.
Bengal 204/1
Sudip 89*
Habib 92*
Nov 2, 2025, 6:40 AM
Bengal looking to score some quick runs
We are now watching one boundary nearly every over. Although both batters are getting closer to their tons, they are going after bad balls.
Bengal 198/1
Gharami 85*
Habib 90*
Nov 2, 2025, 6:23 AM
Swapnil Singh into the attack
Swapnil Singh replaces Abhijit Sarkar from the pavilion end and straightaway teases Habib with balls on the wide line on the off stump.
Habib fetches one from outside off and hits a boundary from the midwicket region. He moves to 86.
Bengal 184/1.
Nov 2, 2025, 6:06 AM
Vijay Shankar into the attack
As we saw in the practice, Shankar was warming up to bowl early. And, unlike Day 1, he came into the bowling attack straightaway, from the City End.
Nov 2, 2025, 6:02 AM
Sudip Gharami starts with a cracking four
Abhijit Sarkar pitched it short and wide, and Gharami was quick to latch onto it and punish ti for a four in the second ball of Day 2.
He moves to 74.
Nov 2, 2025, 5:10 AM
Day 2 will start at 11.30 am IST
Early lunch has been taken and Day 2 will start at 11.30 am IST.
Nov 2, 2025, 4:44 AM
Inspection at 10.30 am
Next inspection is at 10.30 am IST. But I don’t think there will be any game before lunch.
Nov 2, 2025, 4:20 AM
Sun has come out
Tripura vs Bengal Day 2
Suddenly the sun has come it and it is shining bright in Agartala now.
But with the rain we had last night, it might still need at least two hours to get the match started.
It’s early morning and though we will not see any balls being played in at least two hours, kids have come out just to get a glimpse of Mohammed Shami!
Although the sun had come out in the afternoon, the clouds have started coming back again. The rain might be around the corner or we might have a bad light scene.
Nov 1, 2025, 8:51 AM
Somehow Gandhi rushing a bit
Since the start of tea, the left-handed batter has tried to turn the ones into twos and Gharami, denied him a few times. Now, Swapnil Singh floated one up and he went for a big shot. Got the edge but luckily it did not go to the short third.
He then got a short ball and punched it for a four. Then a double took him past 80-mark.
Bengal 167/1
Nov 1, 2025, 8:37 AM
Tripura start with spin after tea
Sridam Paul comes into the attack from the pavilion end and Gandhi milks him for a few singles to rotate strike.
Bengal would certainly love to score a bit quickly and take the run rate closer to 4 at the end of Day 1.
Bengal 153/1 after 53.
Nov 1, 2025, 8:17 AM
Tea, Day 1 | Bengal 150/1
End of an excellent session for Bengal.
82 runs without losing any wickets, and they are now looking strong to finish with 100 more before the end of Day 1.
Sudip Gharami has taken the second fiddle as it was Shakir Habib Gandhi, who scored the most runs in the second session.
Bengal 150/1 in 51 overs.
Sudip Gharami 65*, Habib Gandhi 70*.
Nov 1, 2025, 7:46 AM
Vijay Shankar into the attack!
Vijay Shankar, who has come in as a professional from Tamil Nadu, comes into the bowling in the 47th over.
With the early movement on the pitch, he should have come in earlier.
Bengal 132/1 after 47.
Nov 1, 2025, 7:40 AM
This is what a star player like Mohammed Shami brings to Indian domestic cricket and Ranji Trophy!
More than 2000 people at attendance at M.B.B stadium in Agartala.
Sudip Gharami with a fifty now in consecutive games, and finally, after his 800+ runs in the 2021-22 season, he is looking in good touch.
Gharami did not raise his bat after fifty - means, he wants a ton here.
Gandhi playing a reverse sweep. Image | Koushik Biswas
On the other hand, Gandhi, who was on 6 from 41 balls once, is now taking advantage of a settled wicket. He was one of the changes in the playing XI as we had suggested in the preview, and he raised his hand with a solid fifty after the early wicket of Saifi.
Bengal is looking good now and surely up for a big one in front of a 2000+ crowd present at the M.B.B. Stadium in Agartala.
Bengal 124/1 after 44 overs.
Gharami 58*, Gandhi 52*
Nov 1, 2025, 6:18 AM
Sudip Gharami and Habib Gandhi played through the entire first inning!
Nov 1, 2025, 6:16 AM
Gandhi has played through pain
Ranji Trophy, Tripura vs Bengal updates
Habib Gandhi has been hit twice now and he is down again!
The ball has moved a bit off the pitch and the left-hander is getting medical attention.
For the first time in the match, spin comes into the attack.
Swapnanil Singh, the RCB star, who is actually from Punjab, comes into the attack fromthe pavilion end.
Bengal 54/1
Nov 1, 2025, 5:02 AM
50 up for Bengal
50 up fot Bengal. After the early setback of Kazi Saifi, both Gharami and Gandhi have solidified the visitors innings Gharami unbeaten 35 Gandhi on 13.
Nov 1, 2025, 4:54 AM
Some quick runs for Bengal
After that dropped catch, Gharami has come out and tried to be aggressive rather than being defensive.
That led Tripura to bowl some half volleys and down the leg side deliveries.
Three boundaries for Gharami and on for Gandhi.
Bengal 48/1. Gharami 34, Gandhi 12
Nov 1, 2025, 4:37 AM
Dropped!
Thick edge and it carried to second slip. But Hrituraj could not hold on to it.
Rana Dutta provided the chance for Tripura.
Gharami survives on 20.
Bengal 30/1
Nov 1, 2025, 4:32 AM
Tripura bowlers have been disciplined
Although the weather and conditions have been overcast and bowler-friendly, they have stuck to their strength and bowled at good areas.
Rana Dutta, Vikram, Mura all have been good.
However, Bengal batters have looked to negate the first two hours and it might get easier after that.
The bad news is that, we have 80% chances of rain later in the day.
Nov 1, 2025, 4:21 AM
Bengal 28/1
Bengal 28/1 ar drinks after first hour of game.
Gharami unbeaten on 20, Gandhi on 6.
Nov 1, 2025, 3:58 AM
Gandhi and Gharami building partnership
Gharami has looked solid, scoring on bad balls while Habib Gandhi has looked good defensively.
Bengal 22/1.
Nov 1, 2025, 3:29 AM
Kazi goes early!
Kazi Junaid Saifi, who had scored a duck, goes without scoring.
It looks like the gloves hat brushed the thigh pad but the upmires signals it out.
Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Day 3: Dropped catches and Vihari’s ton keep the game hanging in balance
Hanuma Vihari's unbeaten 121 and three dropped catches from the Bengal team kept the game hanging in balance as the home side now need 63 runs for three points, while Bengal require three wickets.
Hanuma Vihari brought up his 25th first-class ton.
Three dropped catches, a solid 25th first-class ton from Hanuma Vihari, and wicketless Mohammed Shami - these were the highlights of day 3, Tripura vs Bengal, Group C, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match at Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium in Agartala. Hanuma Vihari’s unbeaten 128 took Tripura close to Bengal’s 336 in the first as the home side finished on 273/7 at the end of day 3.
Bengal were bundled for 336
Bengal could only add one more run to their overnight score as Tripura captain Manishankar Murasingh’s fifth ball of the first over kept a bit low and castled the stumps of Shahbaz Ahmed, who was dismissed on 40. Despite a 108 from Sudip Gharami and 95 from Shakir Habib Gandhi, Bengal had to be satisfied with 336 in the first inning. Murasingh finished with 3 wickets, as did Rana Dutta.
Five balls are all it took for Tripura to trigger the innings break. Shahbaz Ahmed has his stumps broken.
Everyone knew with the form Tripura batters were in and the strength of the Bengal bowling lineup, 336 was a good total on the board. Although Mohammed Shami did not strike in the first hour, it was his brother Mohammed Kaif, who took three early wickets to send the Tripura top order back to the pavilion.
Kaif dismissed Bikram Kumar Das on 19, who tried to guide the ball towards third man and played down the ball onto the stumps. Ishan Porel then rattled the stumps of Hrituraj Ghosh Roy with an inswinger, and Bengal had the early momentum.
Photo of the day already!
Mohammed Kaif, the brother of Mohammed Shami cleans up the stumps of Tripura batter Sridam Paul on Day 2 of Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26 in Agartala.
Kaif then had a double wicket over to break into the middle order of the Tripura batting lineup. Sridam Paul could not gauge the inswinger from Kaif and lost his stumps, while Bikramjit Debanth was trapped in front of the stumps by the medium pacer two balls later.
Shahbaz Ahmed then outfoxed Swapnil Singh to lure him out of the crease, and Abishek Porel did the rest to make it 53/5 before lunch.
Hanuma Vihar’s steady ton kept Tripura in the match
With a chance of follow-on lurking on their mind, Hanuman Vihari, the 12-Test experienced professional from Andhra Pradesh, took Tripura out of the misery. However, Vihari gave two chances before making the innings look solid and perfect.
First, it was debutant wicket-keeper batter Sentu Sarkar, who looked good and provided solid support to Vihari. Their partnership of 40 off 87 balls steadied the ship a bit, though they were not out of trouble by any means. Sentu was dismissed by Bengal’s debutant Rahul Prasad, which made the scoreboard look 93/6.
Fifty for Hanuma Vihari, his first of the season.
Apart from one chance off Mohammed Kaif, he has looked good.
Tripura 117/6 against Bengal. Mohammed Shami is yet to take a wicket. #RanjiTrophy
First on 33, Abishek Porel could not hold on to a tough chance to his right as Kaif produced a ripper to find the edge of Hanuma Vihari. Then, on 53, it was Bengal’s stand-in captain Abishek Porel again, who missed a dolley off Ishan Porel to hand Vihari another life.
Meantime, Vijay Shankar kept on hitting occasional boundaries with the pain in his hamstring. Bengal then again had a chance to get Shankar out, but Anustup Majumdar dropped a tough chance at wide first slip to give him a chance.
Abishek Porel, who had gone out after getting injured, returned as a fielder and took a good catch to finally dismiss Vijay Shankar on 34. Kaif, with this fourth one of the inning, proved why he was a good inclusion to the playing XI.
Vihari then did not give any chance and reached his 25th first-class ton in a classy manner to keep the fight on for Tripura. Captain Manisankar Murasingh also added an unbeaten, valuable 42 off 75 to give him the support.
Bengal look to strike early with the new ball
In the final hour of the day, Bengal deliberately slowed the game down to wait for a new ball. They want to strike with the new ball early on the final day and grab those three points. But, between them and those three points will be a steady Hanuma Vihari and a calm Manisankar Murasingh.
Bengal needs three wickets while Tripura requires 63 runs in a battle for three points in Agartala. Check our LIVE blog to check real-time updates of Day 4.
Exclusive Tripura vs Bengal: Shami vs Vihari; flatter pitch, and a new captain in focus in Tripura
Bengal will face Tripura in Agartala for the third round of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, with the much-anticipated contest between Mohammed Shami and Hanuma Vihari likely to be the deciding factor.
Captain Abishek Porel (on left of the image) with coach L.R. Shulka on Friday. Image | Sportz Point
In round three of Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Bengal will face Tripura at Mahraja Bir Bikram Cricket Stadium in Agartala, Tripura, in quest for their third win in a row. In the meantime, the home team will look for their first point after a disappointing successive defeats in the first two games of the season. Mohammed Shami, who is eyeing a return to the Indian squad, will be a key attraction along with his battle against Hanuma Vihari and Vijay Shankar, who will be playing for Tripura.
Match details
Match: Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Round 3
Date: 1-4 November 2025
Time: 8.45 am IST
Venue: Mahraja Bir Bikram Cricket Stadium, Agartala
Where to watch the match?
Unfortunately, there will be no LIVE telecast or streaming of this match. However, you can follow the match on our LIVE blog, starting from tomorrow.
Tripura vs Bengal: Head-to-head
Bengal have defeated Tripura by an innings in both the matches they have faced each other so far.
Shami vs Vihari: A key battle to watch out for
It was in 2022 when Hanuma Vihari played for India in Test cricket. Since then, the right-handed batter has not been able to do something big to make a return to the Indian colours. He, along with former Tamil Nadu star Vijay Shankar and Swapnil Singh from Punjab, has joined Tripura to strengthen the squad.
Although Swapnil Singh was able to get seven wickets in the first innings against Haryana, in a match that only lasted 115 overs, ducks from Vihari and Shankar got them all out on 47 in the second inning.
Now, to face a red-hot Mohammed Shami, who has already taken 15 wickets in the two games so far, Tripura's batting will not have to survive but do more than that to put up a fight.
“Yes, he (Shami) has been in great form and is a legend, but when you get set on a wicket, it gets easier. So, our batters will have to forget the last game and play on the merit of the ball,” Tripura captain Manishankar Mura Singh told Sportz Point at the end of matchday-1’s practice.
As per some of the Tripura Cricket Association’s officials, there will be near about 1500-2000 people present at the ground to watch the Shami vs Hanuma Vihari battle. And the numbers may increase if Shami bowls well.
Pitch confition on Friday morning. Image | Sportz Point
First thing Tripura wanted was less grass on the pitch, with Bengal having ‘one of the best pace bowling units in India’ as mentioned for Abhimanyu Easwaran before the start of the season.
The pitch on Friday looked like a flatter one, but there is no guarantee of that unless and until we see the first few overs bowled on Day 1. The pitch might get lower and slower as the game progresses.
“Not sure about the pitch. Yes, we would like to have something flat. But, we can not predict that unless a few overs have been bowled. It would be the start of the home season, and let’s hope the wicket plays good,” Mura Singh said.
The spin factor in the latter days of the match can force Bengal to go for an added spinner in Rahul Prasad, who might make his first-class debut. The offspinner is handy with the bat as well and will be the main spinner alongside Shahbaz Ahmed, who had a long batting session on both days of practice.
Mohammed Kaif, the brother of Mohammed Shami, can also make a return to the playing XI, replacing Akash Deep in the playing XI.
Kazi Junaid Saifi might be the one replacing injured Sudip Chatterjee at the top, with either Shakir Habib Gandhi or Saurabh Singh playing in the middle order. Aditya Purohit, who was added to the quad after Easwaran left for India-A, had long batting sessions and can also make his first-class debut tomorrow.
Abishek Porel during the practice session on Friday. | Image - Sportz Point
In the absence of Abhimanyu Easwaran, who will be in action during the second India-A vs South Africa-A match, Abishek Porel, the 23-year-old wicket-keeper batter, will lead the Bengal side.
Porel has captained Bengal U-16 and U-19s in the past, but this will be his captaincy debut for the senior team after he led the side in a single Buchi Babu Tournament match in the preseason.
“I love responsibility. I thank C.A.B. and Laxmi (Ratan Shukla) da for entrusting me with the role. It will be a privilege to lead the Bengal team,” Abishek told Sportz Point.
Interestingly, he will lead his cousin, elder brother Ishan Porel, alongside senior players like Mohammed Shami and Anustup Majumdar.
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Ishan Porel now gets into the act. 
After playing off the first spell of Mohammed Shami, somehow, the Tripura batters were relieved. And that worked against them. 
