In a remarkable start to the Ranji Trophy season, Himachal Pradesh’s batters achieved a rare feat, scripting history on the second day of their match against Uttarakhand in Dharamshala. Four of the team’s top-order batsmen registered centuries, marking only the second time in the tournament’s history that such a performance has been achieved. Riding on these splendid innings, Himachal declared their first innings at a massive 663/3.
Top-Order Carnage Begins with Shubham Arora and Prashant Chopra
The onslaught began with openers Shubham Arora and Prashant Chopra, who laid a solid foundation by stitching together a partnership of 206 runs for the first wicket. Shubham, playing only his third first-class match, celebrated his maiden century before being dismissed for 118. On the other hand, Prashant Chopra, an experienced domestic player, went on to notch his 14th first-class hundred.
Prashant kept the momentum going, forming another big partnership with Ankit Kalsi for the second wicket. Their stand of 211 runs put the Uttarakhand bowlers under immense pressure. Prashant, however, fell short of a double century and was bowled out by Mayank Mishra on 171, an innings studded with 19 boundaries.
Ankit Kalsi’s Career-Best Performance Leads the Way
After Chopra’s dismissal, Ankit Kalsi continued to dominate with the bat. He partnered with Ekant Sen, the No. 4 batsman, to forge a 170-run stand for the third wicket. Ekant also scored his maiden century, contributing 101 runs before being dismissed.
While the other centurions walked back to the pavilion, Ankit Kalsi ensured he stayed until the end. His brilliant innings of 205 not out marked his first double century in first-class cricket. With this milestone, Ankit not only secured his team’s position but also cemented his name in the Ranji Trophy record books.
Historic Feat: Four Centuries from the Top Four Batters
The highlight of the day was Himachal Pradesh’s achievement of four consecutive centuries from their top four batters. This rare feat has only occurred once before in Ranji history. Goa was the first team to achieve this back in 2019, when their batters Sumiran Amonkar (160), Vaibhav Govekar (160), Smit Patel (137*), and Amit Verma (122*) achieved the same against Arunachal Pradesh.
In the ongoing match, Himachal’s top four batters put up the following scores:
- Shubham Arora – 118
- Prashant Chopra – 171
- Ekant Sen – 101
- Ankit Kalsi – 205*
Himachal declared their innings at 663/3, setting a massive total for Uttarakhand to chase. At the close of play, Uttarakhand managed only 50 runs for the loss of one wicket, putting them in a tough spot going into the next day.
