Bengal continued their impressive run in the Ranji Trophy 2025 as they secured a commanding victory over Gujarat at Eden Gardens, collecting six crucial points in their second consecutive win. The star pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Shahbaz Ahmed once again proved decisive, turning the match in Bengal’s favor.
After a stellar performance in the first match, Shami carried his form into the second, claiming eight wickets against Gujarat, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Shahbaz, returning from injury, complemented him superbly, taking nine wickets across both innings. Together, their lethal bowling dismantled the Gujarat lineup, restricting them to just 141 runs in the second innings and sealing a 141-run win for Bengal.
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Gujarat’s fightback on the fourth day had started promisingly. The partnership between Urvil Patel and Jaymit Patel had created difficulties for the home team. However, an unexpected injury to Urvil, who retired hurt, allowed Umesh Kumar to step in. Shahbaz’s sharp bowling quickly ended Gujarat’s resistance, and Shami’s magic in the final session, including three consecutive wickets, completely swung the match in Bengal’s favor. Even Urvil, who returned to score 109, could not salvage the innings.
Earlier, Bengal’s first innings saw them post a total of 279 runs, with contributions from Sumanta Gupta (63), Abhishek Porel (51), and Sudip Kumar Gharami (56). Gujarat, in response, struggled under disciplined Bengal bowling. Only Manan Hingrajia (80) showed resistance as Shahbaz picked up six wickets for 34 runs. Gujarat were bowled out for 167, giving Bengal a significant 112-run lead.
In the second innings, Bengal’s batting, though steady, drew some criticism for being overly cautious. Sudip Kumar Gharami and Anustup Majumdar both scored half-centuries, with Gharami registering back-to-back fifties across the innings. While the team faced criticism for not accelerating the scoring, the cautious approach proved effective in the context of weather interruptions and fading light, which could have prematurely ended play on multiple days. Bengal managed 214/8 declared, setting Gujarat a challenging target of 327 runs.
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Urvil Patel initially gave Gujarat hope with a brisk knock, threatening a potential draw. But Shami and Shahbaz’s incisive bowling dismantled the batting lineup. Shami dismissed Abhishek Desai and Manan early, while Akash Deep removed Arya Desai. The Patel duo’s promising partnership was broken by Shahbaz, after which Shami took charge, picking up five wickets for just 38 runs. Shahbaz took three wickets in the second innings, bringing his match tally to nine.
The combined brilliance of Shami and Shahbaz ensured Bengal’s dominance, allowing them to comfortably secure a 141-run victory. With this win, Bengal now has 12 points from two matches, signaling a strong start to their Ranji Trophy campaign.
Shami’s pace and experience, paired with Shahbaz’s all-round capabilities, continue to be the cornerstone of Bengal’s resurgence in domestic cricket. On the other hand, Gujarat will need to regroup after depending heavily on individual performances, most notably Urvil Patel’s unbeaten century, to stay competitive.