Two Games In One Match: Indian Railways Encounter A First Of A Kind Circumstance In The Ranji Trophy vs Punjab

The Ranji Trophy game between Indian Railways and Punjab provided for an eventful and a controversial conclusion as in the 4-day match, two different games giving two different outcomes were played. Due to terrible pitch conditions, two different games were played on two different pitches in the allotted 4 days.

The scheduled game between the two teams was played at the Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi from 20th to 23rd December. Tipped to be a fierce competition, the unpredictable pitch added on the spice which would later change the outcome of the game. After batting first, Punjab scored a total of just 162. This total might be considered as a low score but on this pitch was actually a match winning as batsmen struggled to settle. Using these favorable bowling conditions to his advantage, Adarsh Singh claimed 5 wickets.

In reply, Railways were found wanting at 51 for the loss of 7 wickets but late heroics from Yuvraj Singh (56 off 66) and Akash Pandey (33 off 75) saw them reach a competitive total of 150. Despite trailing by 12 runs, the Railways were in the game. By this time, the pitch had deteriorated substantially in the early stages of the second day itself. 

Punjab’s second innings began and they found themselves in trouble immediately. In just 8 overs they had lost 4 wickets at just 18 runs. Just as the Railways were making a crucial comeback in the game, the game was suspended as Punjab’s Captain Mandeep Singh was hit on the arm. The match referees had to step in and stop the game, deeming the current pitch as dangerous.

After further considerations and discussions, the game was set to resume on the 3rd day on a different pitch but the progress of the first 2 days would be disregarded and the game would be played in a 2-day format. Such an incident was first of a kind in Ranji Trophy’s history.

After the significant decision, the Indian Railways set out on the 3rd day with an opportunity to regain the lost momentum. Punjab won the toss in the second game and asked Railways to bat first on the new pitch. Although better than the previous pitch, the substitute wicket had challenges of its own as well. Railways were bowled out for 102 as Siddharth Kaul picked up 5 wickets. Punjab retaliated with a first innings lead by declaring on 152/6 and claiming the first inning victory.

With a bid for on outright win, Punjab attempted to bowl out the Railways but the the final day came to an anticlimactic end as Railways were unbeaten for 49.

With a chance to attain an infamous win against Punjab, Indian Railways had their work cut out and eventually lost the game on a first innings lead in the dramatic Ranji game.