Goa’s Abhinav Tejrana continued his stellar form to hit a third ton in his first five first-class games, taking his average up to a whopping 102.8.
In reply to Saurashtra’s mammoth 585 in the first innings of their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 fifth-round game, Goa were pegged back early in Rajkot, with Suyash Prabhudessai falling to Jaydev Unadkat in the very first over. Walking in at No.3 was Abhinav Tejrana, riding high on his recent form that had seen him score a double hundred, a century and two fifties in just four first-class games.
The 24-year-old did not disappoint, consolidating the early loss. He first added 60 runs with Manthan Khutkar for the second wicket before joining hands with captain Snehal Kauthankar to add another 65 by the end of day’s play, while also completing his half-century.
Continuing from his overnight score of 75, Tejrana completed his third first-class ton on day three’s first session, but fell to Yuvrajsinh Dodiya for 118 off 167. His knock included 12 fours and two maximums, while also featuring 35 singles and 12 doubles, as he made the perfect mix of caution and aggression after Prabhudessai’s early dismissal.
While his dismissal triggered a collapse for Goa, who went from 199-2 to 211-6, Tejrana walked back to the dressing room with his first-class average reading a more-than-healthy 102.8 after five games.
Also read: First-class average of 78.6: Rising Indian star hits second Ranji double ton in three games
Match 84, Saurashtra vs Goa
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How Abhinav Tejrana started his first-ever Ranji Trophy season
Having moved to Goa from Delhi in 2023, Tejrana got his first taste of first-class cricket with the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. On his debut against Chandigarh, he slammed a record double century in an innings win for his side.
He followed it up with 18 and 73 against Karnataka before hitting a second ton in three games, against Punjab. A quick dismissal in the first innings of his fourth first-class game, against Madhya Pradesh, was followed by yet another 50-plus score in the next innings.
Now with his 118 against Saurashtra, the left-handed batter is surely one to watch out for the remainder of the Ranji season. Notably, he is yet to play List-A or T20 cricket, but if he keeps up this form, he will tick those off his list sooner rather than later.
Image credit: Instagram/goa_cricket_association & JioHotstar
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