Rajasthan Clinch Victory by 8 Wickets Against Himachal Pradesh in Ranji Trophy 2024-25, HP vs RAJ

Rajasthan emerged victorious against Himachal Pradesh by 8 wickets on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match, held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. An outstanding all-round bowling performance from Rajasthan, led by Aniket Choudhary, dismantled Himachal Pradesh’s batting order, securing the win after enforcing a follow-on.

Rajasthan’s First Innings – A Solid Foundation

Rajasthan set the stage with a competitive first innings total of 334 runs. Opener Yash Kothari’s gritty knock of 84 off 147 balls, supported by Mahipal Lomror’s aggressive 99 off 136 balls, laid a strong foundation. Despite a few stumbles, Rajasthan’s middle order, led by captain Deepak Hooda’s 37, managed to post a challenging score.

Mayank Dagar was the pick of the bowlers for Himachal Pradesh, taking 4 wickets for 85 runs, while Vipin Sharma contributed with 2 wickets. Rishi Dhawan also grabbed 2 key wickets, but Rajasthan's batsmen did well to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Himachal Pradesh’s First Innings Collapse

Himachal Pradesh struggled in response, bowled out for a mere 98 in just 29 overs. Rajasthan’s Deepak Chahar was lethal with the new ball, claiming 5 wickets for just 30 runs, while Aniket Choudhary supported him with 3 wickets. Himachal captain Rishi Dhawan remained unbeaten on 40, but received no significant support from the rest of the batting lineup.

This performance saw Himachal trailing by a massive 236 runs, and Rajasthan immediately enforced the follow-on.

Himachal Pradesh's Resilience in the Follow-On

Facing a steep deficit, Himachal Pradesh displayed more resolve in their second innings. Wicketkeeper Shubham Arora’s steady 59 and captain Rishi Dhawan’s fighting 108 were the highlights. However, Manav Suthar’s 4 wickets and Aniket Choudhary’s 5-wicket haul once again proved too much for Himachal, as they were bowled out for 260, setting Rajasthan a target of just 25 runs.

Rajasthan’s Swift Chase

Rajasthan faced early hiccups in their chase, losing both openers, Abhijeet Tomar and Manav Suthar, to Vipin Sharma’s bowling. However, Salman Khan (15*) and Yash Kothari (11*) quickly wrapped up the chase, reaching 26/2 in just 5.2 overs to seal an 8-wicket victory.

Player of the Match: Aniket Choudhary

Aniket Choudhary was named Player of the Match for his stellar bowling, claiming 8 wickets across both innings. His disciplined and accurate spells were crucial in ensuring Rajasthan’s dominance throughout the match.

Match Summary

• Rajasthan 1st Innings: 334 all out (Yash Kothari 84, Mahipal Lomror 99; Mayank Dagar 4/85)
• Himachal Pradesh 1st Innings: 98 all out (Rishi Dhawan 40*; Deepak Chahar 5/30, Aniket Choudhary 3/28)
• Himachal Pradesh 2nd Innings: 260 all out (f/o) (Rishi Dhawan 108, Shubham Arora 59; Aniket Choudhary 5/65, Manav Suthar 4/77)
• Rajasthan 2nd Innings: 26/2 (Yash Kothari 11*, Salman Khan 15*; Vipin Sharma 2/18)

Result: Rajasthan won by 8 wickets.