The second day of the Ranji Trophy witnessed a commanding display of batting prowess across the country, with multiple players reaching significant milestones and helping their teams post imposing first-innings totals. The trend of high-scoring performances was set by marathon knocks from Sanvir Singh, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, and Urvil Patel, all of whom registered double centuries to put their respective sides in strong positions.
In a dominant show at home, Punjab continued their momentum against Andhra. Resuming their innings, the overnight centurions maintained their control, with Sanvir Singh eventually scoring 205. Although Salil Arora, who had also reached a century, departed for 144, Emanjot Singh Chahal took advantage of the solid platform to contribute 122. Punjab eventually declared their first innings at a massive 592/9. Kavuri Saiteja stood out for the bowling side, picking up 3 wickets for 110 runs.
The match at Dharamsala provided a sharp contrast to the opening day. After a total of 20 wickets fell on Tuesday, conditions shifted to become significantly more batting-friendly. Rajasthan, who had been bundled out for a meager 78 in their first innings and trailed by 75 runs, executed a spirited recovery. Opener Rohan Rajbhar led the resurgence with an impressive 140, supported by Mahipal Lomror, who scored 97. By stumps on Day 2, Rajasthan had reached 297/4, establishing a 222-run lead over Himachal Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu’s innings was anchored by Pradosh Ranjan Paul, who scored 208, guiding his team to 571/7 before declaration. However, it was spinner S Ajith Ram who arguably captured the most attention, recording his maiden first-class century. Batting alongside Pradosh, Ajith contributed an unbeaten 115 to a vital 122-run sixth-wicket partnership. Following the declaration, Tamil Nadu made early breakthroughs, leaving Chandigarh struggling at 49/3 at the close of play.
In Ahmedabad, Urvil Patel’s aggressive approach dictated the pace for Gujarat against Kerala. Resuming at 300/5, Gujarat’s batting unit dominated the proceedings throughout the day. Patel, who started the day on 63, accelerated to finish on an unbeaten 210 off 227 balls. Following the departure of Vishal Jayswal for 77, Patel’s whirlwind innings allowed Gujarat to declare at 534/9. Kerala faced a challenging task in response, ending the day at 74/3.
These performances underscore a day where batters exploited improved pitch conditions to set up potentially decisive outcomes. While the bowlers found success difficult to come by on most grounds, the intensity shown by sides like Rajasthan illustrates the competitive nature of the tournament as teams look to push for outright wins in the coming days. The focus now shifts to the third day, as bowling units aim to find breakthroughs against the remaining batters and defensive lineups look to survive the pressure.
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