Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Quarterfinal: Bengal rides on Gharami’s double century to dominate Day 3 against Andhra
Sudip Gharami’s magnificent maiden double hundred, demonstrating his grit and sense of responsibility, helped Bengal secure a sizable 123-run first innings lead on the third day of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Andhra at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani on Sunday.
Beginning from 199 for five, Bengal aggregated 418 for six at Stumps with Gharami (216 batting, 451b, 27×4) and wicketkeeper-batter Shakir Habib Gandhi (45 batting, 113b, 3×4, 1×6) sharing an unbeaten 100-run partnership.
The day belonged to Bengal.
AS IT HAPPENED | Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Quarterfinals Highlight, Day 3
Gharami and Sumanta Gupta concentrated hard to build on their overnight unbeaten 46-run stand and gathered 89 runs more without losing any ground in the opening session.
In the first hour, Andhra mostly employed the pace-spin combination of Nitish Reddy and Saurabh Kumar from round the wicket. While Nitish attacked the batters with bouncers to a loaded onside field and waited for their mistakes, Saurabh looked to contain them.
As the tactic did not succeed, Andhra took the second new ball in the 88th over.
Gharami and Sumanta Gupta (right) concentrated hard to build on their overnight unbeaten 46-run stand and gathered 89 runs more without losing any ground in the opening session.
| Photo Credit:
GARIMA AGARWAL
Gharami and Sumanta Gupta (right) concentrated hard to build on their overnight unbeaten 46-run stand and gathered 89 runs more without losing any ground in the opening session.
| Photo Credit:
GARIMA AGARWAL
With the pitch easing out, Gharami achieved his 150 and Sumanta his half-century to lift the spirits in the Bengal camp. The two rotated the strike besides unleashing big hits. Gharami pulled, drove and swept assuredly, while Sumanta cut and pulled nicely to get boundaries.
Bengal overtook Andhra in the third over after Lunch before losing Sumanta (81, 167b, 9×4, 1×6), caught at silly point off Saurabh, to witness the end of a substantial 165-run stand.
The diminutive Gharami, who survived a DRS referral seeking an lbw decision, banked on his unwavering focus and immense reserve of patience to consistently offer a straight bat. He used his feet well against the spinners, who shared the majority of Andhra’s workload on a conducive track.
Gharami formed another important association with Gandhi, who showed good temperament and skills, to consolidate Bengal’s lead and control.
The scores:
Andhra Pradesh — 1st innings: 295.
Bengal — 1st innings: Abhimanyu Easwaran c Rasheed b Nitish 1, Sudip Chatterjee b Sasikanth 13, Sudip Gharami (batting) 216, Anustup Majumdar c (sub) Revanth b Sasikanth 9, Suraj Jaiswal b Vijay 20, Shahbaz Ahmed b Saurabh 5, Sumanta Gupta c Gnaneshwar b Saurabh 81, Shakir Habib Gandhi (batting) 45; Extras (b-11, lb-8, nb-5, w-4): 28; Total (for six wkts, in 146 overs): 418.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-27, 3-43, 4-123, 5-153, 6-318.
Andhra Pradesh bowling: Nitish 18-1-57-1, Saiteja 17-3-47-0, Sasikanth 19-3-59-2, Raju 23-3-67-0, Saurabh 47-13-81-2, Vijay 18-2-70-1, Rasheed 4-0-18-0.
Published on Feb 08, 2026
