Ranji Trophy round 7: Batters help Hyderabad end season on a high, take command against Chhattisgarh
Hyderabad saved its best batting performance for the final league match of the Ranji Trophy season.
After centuries from Abhirath Reddy and K. Himateja handed the host a commanding position in the Elite Group D clash against Chhattisgarh, Pragnay Reddy joined the centurion’s list on Day 3 at the Gymkhana Ground here on Friday, helping Hyderabad secure a substantial 348-run first-innings lead.
Resuming the day on a solid foundation, Himateja and Pragnay built on their 91-run overnight stand with patience and purpose. 94 runs were added before Himateja was stumped.
Having scored just a half-century in the campaign before, his 258-ball 171 was truly satisfying.
“Getting back among the runs is a very happy feeling, as is ending the season on a high. But there is some disappointment that this knock came late in the season,” Himateja told Sportstar.
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“In the entire match, about 70% of my boundaries were in the covers. I was not letting them bowl with a plan; I was manipulating them using my feet all the time. I enjoyed batting after a long time. No matter how many fielders filled the covers, I was always looking to find the gaps. I am really happy with the way I played. No regrets.”
With 485 runs, Himateja now sits second on Hyderabad’s run charts, just 59 behind Rahul Singh.
Meanwhile, Pragnay, playing his first match of the season, brought up his hundred before lunch but ran out of partners soon enough. In response, Chhattisgarh finished the day with 100 runs shaved off Hyderabad’s lead, losing two wickets in the process.
Looking ahead to the final day, Himateja predicted a swift finish.
“We’re looking to get those eight wickets. Once the current partnership (an unbeaten half-century stand between captain Amandeep Khare and deputy Anuj Tiwary) breaks down, we will get wickets in bunches.”
Published on Jan 31, 2026
