Was Bihar's Victory Over Manipur in the Ranji Trophy Plate Final a Historic Triumph?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, Jan 26 (NationPress) Bihar showcased an impressive all-round display, triumphing over Manipur by a staggering 568 runs in the Ranji Trophy Plate Division 2025–26 final at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna on Monday. This victory not only secured them the title but also guaranteed their promotion to the Elite Group for the upcoming season.
In their first innings, Bihar amassed a formidable 522 runs, bolstered by robust performances from multiple batters. Wicketkeeper-batter Bipin Saurabh spearheaded the effort with a fluent 143 runs, while skipper Sakibul Gani contributed a composed 108 runs. Suraj Kashyap also played a significant role with a valuable 83 runs, helping Bihar set an imposing total.
For Manipur, Rex Rajkumar was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets, while Pheiroijam Jotin and Bishworjit Konthoujam each took two wickets.
Responding to Bihar's first innings total, Manipur was bowled out for 264 runs. Ronald Longjam was the top scorer with a patient 79 runs, but received little support from the rest of the batting lineup. Suraj Kashyap ended with impressive figures of 3/34, and Prashant Singh and Himanshu Singh each claimed two wickets.
With a first-innings lead of 258 runs, Bihar further consolidated their position in the second innings. Opener Piyush Singh delivered a monumental performance, remaining unbeaten on 216 runs off 322 balls, anchoring the innings effectively. He received solid support from Raghuvendra Pratap Singh, who scored a rapid 90 runs, and Khalid Alam, who added 81 runs. Bihar declared their second innings at 505 for six, setting Manipur an arduous target of 764 runs.
In their chase, Manipur was dismissed for 195 runs in the second innings. Pheiroijam Jotin displayed resilience with a fighting 74 runs, while L Kishan Singha contributed 30 runs. However, Bihar's bowlers excelled once more, led by Suraj Kashyap, who took three wickets for just 32 runs, with Himanshu Singh also taking three wickets, as Manipur collapsed within 57 overs.
Bihar also recently excelled in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, overcoming Manipur in the Plate Group final to earn promotion to the Elite Group.