Saurashtra vs Punjab | Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2025/26 | 2nd Semi-Final

This dominating victory for Saurashtra brings this semi-final to a close. They have truly earned their spot in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final after overcoming a strong Punjab side that many had backed for the title. Now, our attention turns to the championship match. The high-stakes encounter where Saurashtra will battle Vidarbha for the coveted trophy. That decider is set for Sunday, January 18th, 2026, at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT). We look forward to your company then for all the pre-match build-up and ball-by-ball action as we crown this season's champion. Until next time, it's cheers and goodbye!

Vishvaraj Jadeja was the undisputed hero of the day and a deserving recipient of the Player of the Match award for his sensational, unbeaten knock of 165 runs.

Earlier in the game, Punjab set a challenging target of 292, finishing on 291 all out after being sent in to bat by Saurashtra. The innings was anchored by a brilliant century from Anmolpreet Singh and a fluent 87 from skipper Prabhsimran Singh, who shared a crucial 109-run partnership. While Chetan Sakariya (4/60) struck at regular intervals to be the pick of the bowlers and Jaydev Unadkat kept things tight, a late 42 from Ramandeep Singh ensured Punjab posted a competitive total at the Centre of Excellence Ground.

From Punjab's perspective, it was a tough day at the office. Their bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, being smashed across the park and failing to apply any meaningful pressure. They were simply outclassed by a superior batting unit that looked in control from the very first over, a performance that undoubtedly seals Saurashtra's spot as a formidable contender for the VHT crown.

This semi-final served as a striking mirror image of the clash between Karnataka and Vidarbha, where the team batting first failed to capitalize on solid partnerships and was held to a sub-300 total, only for the chasing side to dismantle the target with clinical ease. While yesterday’s headlines were dominated by Aman Mokhade, this victory will be remembered for Vishvaraj Jadeja's masterclass. A majestic, unbeaten 165 that saw him strike the winning runs and firmly stake his claim before the watchful eyes of the national selectors.

A commanding victory sees Saurashtra book their place in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 final with a truly dominant batting performance. Chasing 292 for victory, their openers, Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja, made an emphatic statement. They stitched together a mammoth 172-run partnership, an exhibition of precise strokeplay and relentless accumulation, simply never allowing the Punjab bowlers a sniff at an opening. All it took for Saurashtra was the top three to knock down the total that was posted from Punjab, as the first wicket partnership was followed by an unbeaten partnership of 121 between Vishvaraj Jadeja and Prerak Mankad that saw the side over the finish line.