Vishvaraj Jadeja’s brilliant 165 takes Saurashtra to Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 final

Vishvaraj Jadeja’s brilliant unbeaten 165 powered Saurashtra to a commanding nine-wicket win over Punjab, securing their place in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final on Friday. In the title clash on Sunday, Saurashtra will face Vidarbha.

Vishvaraj Jadeja took charge with a masterful 127-ball innings

After Saurashtra bowlers restricted Punjab to a below-par total of 291, Jadeja took charge with a masterful 127-ball innings, smashing 18 fours and 3 sixes. He received solid support from opener Harvik Desai, who scored 64, and Prerak Mankad, who remained unbeaten on 52, as Saurashtra comfortably chased the target in 39.3 overs.

Jadeja and Mankad added an unbroken 121-run partnership for the second wicket. Saurashtra also got an early boost, receiving five penalty runs after Punjab batters ran in restricted areas during their innings. They made full use of this advantage with a strong and steady batting display.

The Jadeja-Desai duo scored 23 runs together in the seventh over off pacer Krish Bhagat, keeping the momentum alive. Jadeja reached his fifty in just 29 balls and then settled into a steady rhythm, taking 45 more deliveries to bring up his third List A century. Desai was dismissed attempting a cut to Naman Dhir at point, but Jadeja continued his dominance, eventually surpassing his maiden 150 in List A cricket and finishing the chase with a boundary off Dhir.

How was Punjab’s start?

Punjab had started well, with openers Harnoor Singh and Prabhsimran Singh adding 60 runs before Harnoor was run out. The second-wicket partnership between Prabhsimran and Anmolpreet yielded 109 runs, with Prabhsimran playing aggressively on the leg-side. However, his attacking approach led to his dismissal, caught by a substitute fielder off Chirag Jani.

Anmolpreet Singh smashed a century

Anmolpreet continued to score steadily and reached his century in 103 balls, helping Punjab recover after losing two wickets, Naman Dhir and Nehal Wadhera, off consecutive balls in the 36th over. Punjab posted 275 for four in the 47th over. However, the dismissal of Anmolpreet by Chetan Sakariya triggered a collapse, with Punjab losing five wickets for just 16 runs as Sakariya bowled a brilliant death-over spell.

This collapse proved decisive, allowing Saurashtra to chase the target comfortably under the lights while Punjab’s bowlers struggled to find any rhythm.