Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Hingrajia leads Gujarat’s sturdy reply after Badoni’s double propels Delhi

Priyansh Arya’s 199 and Ayush Badoni’s 217 for Delhi were studded with modern-day flamboyance, Manan Hingrajia’s unbeaten 108 (274b, 12x4, 1x6) for Gujarat at the Palam ‘B’ ground here on Tuesday was a throwback to old-school solidity. The 28-year-old may possibly have more attacking shots in his armoury, but the left-hand batter was intent on displaying admirable restraint on day three of the Ranji Trophy Group-C clash in the national capital. From his overnight score of 12, he carried on through the entire day to take Gujarat’s first-innings total to 363 for five at the close.

The visitors still stare at a deficit of 285 runs, but they should fancy their chances of grinding down Delhi’s bowlers further on a slow deck. Giving Hingrajia company at stumps was skipper Chintan Gaja (41 batting, 105b, 3x4). On a surface where wickets are ever so hard to come by, Delhi may come to rue Gaja’s reprieve on five by Money Grewal at fine-leg off Navdeep Saini. All-rounder Jaymeet Patel also played a solid hand (72, 119b, 9x4), sharing a 124-run fifth-wicket stand with Hingrajia.

Hingrajia’s approach — he scored just 96 runs in the whole day — was apt for the situation. Gujarat had fared reasonably to get to 98 for two at the end of the second day in response to the host’s 648 for six declared. But in Tuesday’s opening session, the loss of two more wickets was an undeniable dent. Vedant Trivedi departed in the seventh over of the day when he was strangled down the leg side off Divij Mehra. Wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat, who was standing up to the stumps to the medium-pacer, showed ample skill and agility to grab a difficult catch.

Urvil Patel’s impetuosity to attack meant his contribution was confined to a 28-ball 23. With off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen turning the ball into his hitting arc, Urvil couldn’t resist a slog across the line, only to find Ayush Badoni snaffling a sharp catch at slip.

The scores: Delhi — 1st innings: Priyansh Arya b Hingrajia 199, Sanat Sangwan c Urvil b Harshal 8, Yash Dhull c Trivedi b Harshal 10, Ayush Doseja (run out) 29, Ayush Badoni c Urvil b Jaymeet 217, Sumit Mathur c Abhishek b Hingrajia 92, Anuj Rawat (not out) 61; Extras (b-12, lb-13, w-7): 32; Total (for six wkts. decl. in 136.4 overs): 648.

Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-87, 3-142, 4-376, 5-543, 6-648.

Gujarat bowling: Gaja 24-4-91-0, Nagwaswalla 24-1-91-0, Harshal 18-0-97-2, Jaymeet 18-6-66-1, Siddharth 26-2-127-0, Hingrajia 14.4-1-72-2, Jayswal 11-0-76-0, Aarya 1-0-3-0.

Gujarat — 1st innings: Abhishek Desai c Doseja b Shokeen 34, Aarya Desai c Dhull b Shokeen 11, Vedant Trivedi c Rawat b Divij 38, Manan Hingrajia (batting) 108, Urvil Patel c Badoni b Shokeen 23, Jaymeet Patel c Sanat b Saini 72, Chintan Gaja (batting) 41; Extras (b-25, lb-7, w-1, nb-3): 36; Total (for five wkts. in 120 overs): 363.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-79, 3-118, 4-153, 5-277.

Delhi bowling: Divij 13-2-34-1, Saini 20-4-46-1, Shokeen 31-3-94-3, Grewal 14-2-40-0, Badoni 17-3-53-0, Mathur 13-1-39-0, Priyansh 7-1-13-0, Doseja 5-0-12-0.