Ranji Trophy 2026/27: Assam determinedly holds off Punjab push for outright win

Punjab took a first-innings lead on the back of hundreds from Emanjot Singh Chahal and Salil Arora, but had to settle for a draw.

Updated : Oct 14, 2026 19:19 IST , New Chandigarh - 3 MINS READ

Punjab batters Salil Arora (in pic) and Emanjot Singh Chahal hit hundreds to take a first-innings lead against Assam. | Photo Credit: Emmanuel Yogini

Punjab went all in for an outright win but had to settle for three points on the final day of its Ranji Trophy round-one match against Assam at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Overnight batters Emanjot Singh Chahal (114 n.o., 137b, 10x4, 4x6) and Salil Arora (110, 152b, 10x4, 3x6) needed less than a session to restore parity and take a first-innings lead.

The charge was in full throttle from the fourth over, when Salil hopped out to Mohit Thakur and drilled him through the covers. Salil reserved his best for pacer Dipjyoti Saikia, creaming two drives through covers and mid-off.

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Mohit was targeted again by the pair when Salil lofted him inside-out for a boundary, and with a late cut from Emanjot, Punjab drew level with Assam at 373 runs.

Shortly after conceding the lead, Assam spread its field out in hopes of limiting the lead, placing seven players in the deep. However, Punjab’s aggressive approach came as a rude awakening.

Emanjot deposited an overpitched delivery from Mohit beyond the sight screen and followed it up with a pull through midwicket in the same over.

Salil’s innings accelerated as he was nearing the century mark, with back-to-back sixes over long-on that he picked off Amlanjyoti Das. Looking to carry on in the same vein, after his 147-ball century, Salil miscued a heave and holed out to deep cover off Mukhtar Hussain.

Emanjot went unbeaten and reached his maiden First-Class hundred in 132 balls. He lofted Dipjyoti over long-off twice in an over, ensuring Punjab’s haul from the first session ballooned to 191 runs.

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With a lead worth 105 runs, Punjab inserted Assam for a second innings after Lunch and got a late whiff of a win.

Umesh added two wickets to his match figures, snaring Nebir Deka at gully and producing a peach to Rajveer Singh that pitched and changed angle to break the batter’s wicket. Harpreet Brar got a length ball to skid straight and accounted for Rishav Das.

Coming in at 36 for three, Denish Das and Sibsankar Roy appeared to have weathered the storm courtesy of their 57-run alliance. But both were caught behind on either side of Tea, off Harjas Tandon and Harpreet respectively, giving Punjab a reason to let the match run its due course.

Gurnoor Brar then set an on-side trap, with three catchers at midwicket, to find a way past Sumit Ghadigaonkar’s deadblocking, trapping him leg-before off a low full toss after an 84-ball 13. Mukhtar could not duck under a Gurnoor bouncer in time and had to retire hurt.

But Amlanjyoti Das stood in support of Sarupam Purkayastha (18 n.o., 68b, 3x4) for the final 30 minutes and ensured Assam’s solitary point did not slip away.

Published on Oct 14, 2026

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