Chhattisgarh Enters Crucial Phase in Ranji Trophy Campaign
Chhattisgarh cricket team faces a decisive moment in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season. The team must win both remaining league matches to stay in contention for the knockout stage. Their campaign resumes on January 22 with everything on the line.
Venue Change Adds to Challenge
Originally scheduled as home fixtures at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Nava Raipur, both matches will now be played away. This change became necessary because the same venue hosts an India-New Zealand T20 international on January 23. The team must adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions during this critical phase.
Strong Individual Performances Highlight Season
Chhattisgarh's campaign has been marked by outstanding individual contributions. Several players delivered consistent performances that kept the team competitive throughout the tournament.
Batting Stars Shine Bright
Ayush Pandey emerged as the team's most reliable batter. He scored 355 runs in 5 matches across 9 innings. Pandey registered an unbeaten 117 as his highest score and maintained an impressive average of 59.17. His tally included 1 century and 2 half-centuries, providing crucial stability to the batting lineup.
Captain Amandeep Khare proved equally influential from the middle order. He amassed 341 runs in 5 matches from 7 innings, highlighted by a career-best 156. Khare averaged a remarkable 68.20 and struck 2 centuries, anchoring the innings during crucial moments.
Bowling Attack Delivers Consistently
Pacer Ravi Kiran spearheaded the bowling attack with exceptional effectiveness. The left-arm bowler claimed 23 wickets in 5 matches from 6 innings at an economy rate of 2.78. His haul included 1 four-wicket performance and 2 five-wicket hauls, making him the team's most successful bowler this season.
Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Aditya Sarwate provided vital support from the other end. He finished with 15 wickets in 5 matches across 7 innings. Operating with tight control, Sarwate maintained an economy rate of 2.59 and recorded 1 four-wicket and 1 five-wicket haul.
Group D Standings Create Pressure
Chhattisgarh currently occupies 3rd position in the Elite Group D points table with 14 points. While they struggled to convert draws into outright victories, their ability to secure first-innings leads kept them in the hunt.
Defending champions Mumbai established a commanding position at the top with 24 points from 5 fixtures. They enjoy a 4-point cushion over their nearest rivals, Jammu and Kashmir. Rajasthan and Hyderabad follow closely behind Chhattisgarh, tied at 13 points each.
Tough Opposition Awaits
The upcoming fixtures present formidable challenges for Chhattisgarh. Traditional heavyweights Delhi and Hyderabad stand as opponents in these must-win matches. Both teams possess strong cricketing pedigrees and will test Chhattisgarh's title ambitions thoroughly.
With no margin for error remaining, Chhattisgarh must rise to the occasion. They need to deliver two outright victories to keep their Ranji Trophy knockout hopes alive. The team's balanced performances and individual brilliance must now translate into complete team efforts during these decisive encounters.
The race for knockout qualification intensifies as the tournament enters its final league phase. Every match carries significant weight, especially for mid-table teams like Chhattisgarh who need maximum points from their remaining fixtures.
