Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Andhra wins by four wickets after Tamil Nadu suffers another batting collapse
After Andhra fell agonisingly short of claiming the first-innings lead on Sunday, the 21-year-old Shaik Rasheed — who’d given his all with an unbeaten 87 — said, “We didn’t get the lead, maybe, but we’ll definitely get an outright win!”
Whether it was the boundless optimism of youth or genuine conviction, one wouldn’t know. But barely a day later, his prophecy was fulfilled.
Tamil Nadu was stripped of every morsel of pleasure it had earned on the second day, first being bowled out for 195 after resuming at 101 for three, and then watching Andhra chase down a 200-run target with four wickets to spare on the third day of their Elite Group-A fourth-round Ranji Trophy match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Though Andhra wobbled in its chase after losing four quick wickets, K.S. Raju (20) and Ashwin Hebbar (21) ensured a safe passage. Raju lofted a four to long-on and cracked a six to cow corner off left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore when 14 were needed, easing the pressure.
But it was opener Abhishek Reddy’s innings (70, 75b, 11×4) that gave Andhra early momentum in the chase. Remarkably, he hit three consecutive fours off pacer Trilok Nag—a pull to cow corner and midwicket, a square drive between the point and deep backward point fielders. He charged and hit a straight drive, swept, and played the late cut for three fours off left-arm spinner P. Vidyuth. Abhishek added 72 runs for the second wicket with left-hander Karan Shinde (51, 64b, 8×4).
On a day when some balls stayed alarmingly low, four dismissals came in that fashion. Tamil Nadu’s Baba Indrajith (6) and Andre Siddarth (33) were bowled on the backfoot by left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar (four for 46) and off-spinner Tripurana Vijay, while Andhra’s Srikar Bharat (5) and Rasheed (7) were cleaned up by Sai Kishore and Vidyuth.
SCORECARD
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 182.
Andhra — 1st innings: 177.
Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: R. Vimal Khumar c Bharat b Raju 20, N. Jagadeesan c Bhui b Prithvi Raj 0, B. Sachin run out 51, Pradosh Ranjan Paul b Prithvi Raj 29, R. Sai Kishore lbw b Saurabh 16, Baba Indrajith b Saurabh 6, Andre Siddarth b Vijay 33, R. Sonu Yadav c Bharat b Saurabh 28, P. Vidyuth c Bharat b Vijay 2, Trilok Nag c Vijay b Saurabh 3, Sandeep Warrier (not out) 0; Extras (w-2, b-4, lb-1): 7; Total (all out in 70.3 overs): 195.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-32, 3-101, 4-109, 5-127, 6-130, 7-190, 8-190, 9-195.
Andhra bowling: Prithvi Raj 14-1-31-2, Saiteja 13-4-33-0, Raju 13-1-44-1, Hebbar 5-1-20-0, Vijay 7-2-16-2, Saurabh 18.3-1-46-4.
Andhra — 2nd innings: Abhishek Reddy lbw b Sai Kishore 70, K.S. Bharat b Sai Kishore 5, Karan Shinde c Vimal b Pradosh 51, Shaik Rasheed b Vidyuth 7, Saurabh Kumar c Vidyuth b Sai Kishore 0, Ricky Bhui lbw b Vidyuth 2, Ashwin Hebbar (not out) 21, K.S. Raju (not out) 20; Extras (nb-2, w-2, b-12, lb-9): 25; Total (for six wkts in 41.2 overs): 201.
Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-113, 3-158, 4-158, 5-160, 6-162.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Warrier 9-0-59-0, Trilok 2-0-23-0, Sai Kishore 15-0-46-3, Sonu 2-0-12-0, Vidyuth 11.2-0-37-2, Pradosh 2-1-3-1.
Published on Nov 10, 2025
