Rajgir : Rinku Singh and Madhav Kaushik made strong statements in opening game of Ranji Trophy 2026-27 with commanding centuries as Uttar Pradesh hammered Bihar by an innings and 267 runs at Rajgir in Group A clash.
Batting first, UP lost 3 wickets for 85 runs. But Madhav Kaushik (150) and Rinku Singh (112) took matters upon their shoulders and plundered massive 207 runs partnership and punished Bihar bowlers all over the park.
Kaushik scored 150 (326) with 3 sixes and 7 boundaries. Rinku smashed 112 (168) with 3 sixes and 8 boundaries.
Aaradhya Yadav (84) and Zeeshan Ansari (58) also scored half centuries while number 10 Abhinandan Singh (43) added more runs as UP ended on 540. Amod Yadav and Suraj Kashyap from Bihar picked 4 and 3 wickets each.
Bihar could never recover from the massive run pressure that UP created on them. Kartik Yadav and Karan Sharma grabbed 4 wickets each as Bihar got dismissed for 141 with UP enforcing ‘Follow On’. Following On, Bihar couldn’t improve as Zeeshan Ansari picked 4 wickets, Karan Sharma took 3 wickets, as Bihar were bundled out for 132.
UP with an innings and 267 runs win will next face Goa on October 18 while Bihar will take on Baroda.
Brief Scorecard –
UP : 540
BIH : 141 & 132 f
Result : UP won by an innings & 267 runs.
