Bengal surged into the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 semifinals on Tuesday, securing a comprehensive victory over Andhra by an innings and 90 runs. Playing at the Bengal Cricket Academy in Kalyani, the hosts dominated from start to finish, ensuring their first semifinal appearance since the 2022-23 season.
While Andhra attempted to show some resilience on the final day, the outcome was rarely in doubt as Bengal’s bowling unit clinicaly dismantled the visitors’ batting order.
Shahbaz Ahmed Leads the Charge
Bengal’s left-arm spinner, Shahbaz Ahmed, was the architect of the final day’s collapse, finishing with a decisive four-wicket haul.
- Early Breakthroughs: Shahbaz struck early in the morning session, removing Andhra captain Ricky Bhui via a sharp catch at silly point.
- The Spin Trap: He followed up by dismissing Saurabh Kumar, while pacer Suraj Jaiswal provided support by trapping K.V. Sasikanth leg-before.
- The Lone Resistance: Despite the pressure, Nitish Kumar Reddy played a courageous knock of 90 (144 balls), fighting a lonely battle to delay the inevitable with support from T. Vijay (46).
Bengal’s Semifinal Matchup
Following this dominant performance, Bengal is set to host Jammu and Kashmir in the semifinals at the same Kalyani venue. J&K advanced after a historic quarterfinal win, setting up a high-stakes clash for a spot in the final.
Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran praised the collective grit of his side, highlighting the performance of Akash Deep, who spearheaded the first-innings bowling attack despite battling a fever.
“The team is peaking at the right time. We are winning important moments this year.” — Abhimanyu Easwaran
