The second round of the Ranji Trophy 2024 kicked off on Friday, January 12, featuring thirty-two teams in the Elite Group stage, intensifying the competition in India’s premier domestic tournament. In a standout performance, seasoned seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a resounding return to first-class cricket, showcasing his prowess against Bengal.
Facing off against Bengal, Bhuvneshwar concluded Day 1 with a remarkable five-wicket haul, securing bowling figures of 5/25 in 13 overs, including three maiden overs. All five wickets claimed by Uttar Pradesh were attributed to the Meerut-born speedster. This impressive comeback marked Bhuvneshwar’s return to the first-class format after a hiatus of nearly six years.
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Opting to bat first after winning the toss, UP struggled against the formidable Bengal attack led by skipper Manoj Tiwary. The decision to capitalize on favorable conditions paid off for Bengal as their pacers, including Ishan Porel (2/24), Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (3/20), and Mohammad Kaif (4/14), dismantled the UP batting lineup, bundling them out for a mere 60 runs in the first innings.
Here is the video of the 5-wicket haul from Bhuvneshwar Kumar:
.@BhuviOfficial on fire 🔥
A five-wicket haul and he’s taken all 5⃣ Bengal wickets to fall so far. What a splendid spell 👌👌@IDFCFIRSTBank | #RanjiTrophy | #UPvBEN
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/yRqgNJxmLY pic.twitter.com/Dqu0OgJMk0
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 12, 2024
While Bengal initially asserted dominance, Bhuvneshwar swung the momentum in UP’s favor by orchestrating a quick collapse in the Bengal batting order. His devastating spell saw him claim two wickets in three balls during the eleventh over. The experienced Bengal batsman, Anustup Majumdar, also fell victim to Bhuvneshwar’s brilliance, and the relentless bowler went on to dismiss Tiwary and wicketkeeper-batsman Abishek Porel.
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Despite the spirited fightback, Bengal ended the day with a narrow lead of 35 runs over UP, finishing at 95/5 after 28 overs. Openers Shreyansh Ghosh (37*) and Karan Lal (8*) remain unbeaten, setting the stage for an intriguing continuation on Day 2.
