Team India’s rising pacer, Arshdeep Singh, delivered a masterclass with the new ball during the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final clash against Maharashtra in Vadodara on January 11. The left-arm quick bowled a spectacular delivery to dismiss Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who managed only five runs off five balls in the high-stakes knockout match.
Punjab’s captain, Abhishek Sharma, opted to bowl first after winning the toss, which paid off immediately. Maharashtra’s innings started on a shaky note as Arshdeep struck on the final ball of the opening over, sending Gaikwad back to the pavilion. Known for his swing and precision, Arshdeep made full use of the new ball, dismantling Gaikwad’s stumps with a delivery that pitched perfectly and angled away, leaving the batter completely beaten.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad, struggling for form throughout the tournament, was visibly troubled by Arshdeep’s probing line and length. Earlier in the over, he had survived a close call when an inside edge narrowly missed the stumps and raced to the boundary. However, Arshdeep had the final say, delivering a gem of a ball that clipped the top of off stump, giving Punjab a crucial early breakthrough.
Arshdeep wasn’t done yet. In his next over, he dismissed Siddhesh Veer for a five-ball duck, reducing Maharashtra to a precarious 8/2 within the first three overs. His opening spell was a testament to his skill, ending with figures of 5-1-21-2.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Domestic even shared a video of Gaikwad’s dismissal on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it, “Delightful bowling 👌👌 Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent first spell and picked up 2⃣ early wickets 🔥 #VijayHazareTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank.”
Delightful bowling 👌👌
Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent first spell and picked up 2⃣ early wickets 🔥#VijayHazareTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/eTrCnJbd5H pic.twitter.com/OSPU87Agtb
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 11, 2025
Despite Arshdeep’s fiery start, Maharashtra recovered through a steady partnership between Ankit Bawne and Arshin Kulkarni. The duo added over 100 runs, with Kulkarni unbeaten on 75 off 103 balls, including 11 boundaries, while Bawne contributed 60 runs from 84 balls. By the 32nd over, Maharashtra had reached 144/2, aiming to set a competitive total.
