The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 witnessed a spectacular display of batting prowess and bowling excellence on a day filled with high-scoring encounters. Star Indian all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, along with the talented Devdutt Padikkal, stamped their authority with commanding centuries. Meanwhile, the bowling departments were lit up by impressive performances from pacemen Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Century Blitz from India Stars
In a dominant display for Baroda, Hardik Pandya blasted a sensational 133 runs off just 113 deliveries against Uttarakhand. His innings, laced with 10 fours and 7 sixes, was a powerful reminder of his destructive capabilities in white-ball cricket. He found able support from skipper Krunal Pandya, who contributed a solid 74, propelling Baroda to a formidable total of 324 for 5 in their 50 overs.
Not to be outdone, Gujarat's Axar Patel played a captain's knock, scoring a brilliant 112 against Himachal Pradesh. His composed century anchored the Gujarat innings, showcasing his growing confidence and maturity as a batsman in the domestic circuit.
Adding to the century fest, Karnataka's Devdutt Padikkal continued his rich vein of form with a magnificent 151 against Railways. His knock was the cornerstone of Karnataka's massive total, underlining his status as one of the most promising young batters in the country.
Bowling Brilliance from Pace Duo
While the batsmen had their day, the bowlers also made significant impacts. Punjab's left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 34 against Services. His precision and ability to take early wickets were instrumental in restricting the opposition and securing a victory for his side.
For Delhi, the fiery Harshit Rana announced his arrival with a superb five-wicket haul. He finished with figures of 5 for 50, dismantling the Jammu & Kashmir batting lineup and playing a key role in Delhi's comprehensive win.
Other Notable Performances and Results
The day's action was packed with several other noteworthy contributions. For Baroda, young opener Prithvi Shaw was dismissed early for 12, but the Pandya brothers ensured a big total. Uttarakhand's chase never gained momentum, with Baroda's bowlers, led by Bhargav Bhatt (3/31), bundling them out for 207 to secure a massive 117-run win.
In another fixture, Delhi, powered by Harshit Rana's fifer, bowled out Jammu & Kashmir for 179. The chase was anchored by Dhruv Shorey's unbeaten 85, guiding Delhi home by 6 wickets.
Punjab's victory over Services was set up by Arshdeep's early strikes. In reply, Prabhsimran Singh's aggressive 59 and a steady 64 from Naman Dhir ensured Punjab chased down the target of 200 with 7 wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, Saurashtra faced a setback, losing to Haryana by 4 wickets despite a valiant 92 from Sheldon Jackson. Haryana's chase was successfully led by Ashok Menaria's 67.
The day's results underscore the depth of talent in Indian domestic cricket. Established national team players like Hardik and Axar are using the tournament to regain rhythm, while emerging pacers like Arshdeep and Harshit are staking strong claims for higher honours. With such intense competition and stellar individual performances, the Vijay Hazare Trophy continues to be a crucial platform for cricketing excellence in India.
