Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Unwavering Harnoor rescues Punjab on Day 1 against Kerala
Harnoor Singh Pannu (126 n.o., 258, 11×4) kept his calm amidst a batting implosion to bring up his maiden First-Class century, ensuring Punjab lasted the first day against Kerala in its Ranji Trophy Group B match at the PCA New Cricket Stadium, Ground B on Saturday.
In a format rapidly inculcating the practice of taking on bowlers and asserting dominance, Harnoor showed that attrition still goes a long way.
It was precisely what his side needed at 152 for five, having lost four wickets for 24 runs. He stuck to his approach and built a crucial 74-run partnership with Salil Arora for the sixth wicket. Punjab ended the day at 240 for six.
Earlier in the day, Pannu looked in a hurry when he clipped Nidheesh M.D.’s length delivery that tailed into him for a boundary in the very first over.
But with the early introduction of spin in the fifth over, Harnoor soon reverted to working the gaps and nudging singles — a spread-out field on the on side only easing that task. From there, it was patience and perseverance that defined his unbeaten vigil through the rest of the day.
Harnoor and Prabhsimran Singh each picked boundaries with late cuts against left-arm orthodox Ankit Sharma. The opening stand, though, collapsed on 52 after Prabhsimran attempted a cheeky paddle sweep off Baba Aparajith and saw the ball roll onto the stumps off his gloves.
Run rate was of no essence when Harnoor got together with Uday Saharan for the second wicket. Their 86-run partnership that took 217 balls on either side of the lunch break reflected their single-minded approach to stonewall and break down the bowlers.
Saharan’s only boundary in his 105-ball 37 was an edge that crept through the slip cordon off N.P. Basil. Harnoor was more fluent as he drove Basil through covers and punched Nidheesh through point to get his fifty in 111 balls.
But the approach backfired when Punjab’s middle order gave in to impulse and let Kerala take a hold of proceedings.
After Saharan was beaten by Ankit’s turn and castled, Punjab’s Indian Premier League imports offered a combined 33 deliveries to support Harnoor.
Naman Dhir and Anmolpreet Singh poked outside the off-stump line and were caught-behind off Basil. Ramandeep Singh decided to take on Ankit and clear mid on, only to pick the fielder with a miscue.
A consequence of the brief slump was that Punjab could only add 52 runs in the 24 overs in the second session.
But Harnoor was unwavering and trusted his front-footed defence. He retreated into his crease and twice picked boundaries with a cut against Ankit – the second getting him to his ton in 207 balls.
The day could have taken a different course had Harnoor not been shelled at mid off on 93 off Nidheesh.
Salil dropped anchor to arrest the collapse but picked the only maximum of the day against Aparajith to show he can also lean towards the opposite approach.
Salil paid the price for it too when he was pinned in front by Aparajith while attempting a sweep in the penultimate over of the day.
However, Harnoor lasted at the other end, leaving Punjab with the chance of piling on more to its total.
Published on Oct 25, 2025
