Bengal’s dominant run in the Ranji Trophy reached new heights as they dismantled Andhra Pradesh by an innings and 90 runs at Kalyani to secure a spot in the semifinals. The victory was scripted by Sudip Gharami’s marathon double-century and a clinical bowling performance led by Shahbaz Ahmed, marking Bengal’s return to the final four after two seasons.

The cornerstone of this massive win was Sudip Gharami’s extraordinary 299-run knock. Batting for a staggering 930 minutes and facing 596 deliveries, Gharami displayed immense patience and technique. Although he fell agonisingly short of a triple century by just one run, his effort propelled Bengal to a mammoth first-innings total of 629, in response to Andhra’s 295.

Starting the final day at 64/3, Andhra needed a miracle to save the match. While captain Nitish Kumar Reddy fought a lonely battle with a resilient 90, he found no support from the other end. Bengal’s spin spearhead Shahbaz Ahmed tore through the middle order, returning figures of 4/72. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal chipped in with two wickets as Andhra were eventually bowled out for 244 in their second innings.

The pace duo of Mukesh Kumar (5/66) and Akash Deep (4/79) had already done the damage in the first innings, ensuring Bengal remained in the driver’s seat throughout. This victory is a testament to Bengal’s resurgence this season under Abhimanyu Easwaran. After failing to make an impact in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, the “Bonno Brigade” looks hungrier than ever.

Bengal’s journey to the semifinals has been flawless, topping Group C with 36 points and five wins from seven matches. Having defeated powerhouses like Gujarat and Haryana in the group stages, Bengal is now high on confidence. They are slated to face Jammu & Kashmir in the semifinals, while Karnataka will take on Uttarakhand in the other clash. With the form Sudip Gharami and the bowlers are in, Bengal is undoubtedly the favorite to lift the prestigious trophy this year.