The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 group stage ended in dramatic fashion as Punjab edged Mumbai by just one run in a nail-biting contest, while Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Vidarbha, and Madhya Pradesh also booked their quarter-final spots. The knockout stage is now set to begin from January 12, promising high-intensity battles for the domestic one-day title.
After seven rounds of league action, Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra, Karnataka, Mumbai, Delhi, Vidarbha, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh emerged as the final contenders for the title.
The final round proved decisive across groups, with several qualification spots settled on net run rate and narrow margins. Traditional powerhouses such as Karnataka, Mumbai, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh underlined their consistency, while Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh booked their quarter-final berths with crucial victories on the final day.
Quarter-Final Line-up Confirmed
With the group stage complete, attention now turns to the knockout phase. The quarter-finals will be played on January 12 and 13, setting the stage for four high-quality encounters.
Quarter-Final Fixtures
Quarter-Final 1 – January 12
Karnataka vs Mumbai: A blockbuster clash between two domestic heavyweights, featuring deep batting line-ups and experienced bowling attacks.
Quarter-Final 2 – January 12
Uttar Pradesh vs Saurashtra: Unbeaten Uttar Pradesh face a battle-hardened Saurashtra side in a contest likely to hinge on discipline and temperament.
Quarter-Final 3 – January 13
Punjab vs Madhya Pradesh
Punjab’s aggressive batting unit comes up against a balanced Madhya Pradesh side that peaked at the right time.
Quarter-Final 4 – January 13
Delhi vs Vidarbha
A high-quality encounter pitting Delhi’s pace-heavy attack against Vidarbha’s in-form middle order.
Round 7 Highlights: Big Scores and Key Performances
Punjab Stun Mumbai in One-Run Thriller
In a match that swung wildly till the final ball, Punjab pulled off a sensational one-run victory over Mumbai at the Jaipuria Vidhyalaya Ground. Chasing 217, Mumbai looked firmly in control thanks to a record-breaking onslaught from Sarfaraz Khan, but a dramatic late collapse turned the game on its head.
Punjab’s bowlers Mayank Markande and Gurnoor Brar triggered the turnaround, ripping through the lower order to leave Mumbai agonisingly short in a finish that defied logic and sealed one of the most remarkable wins of the tournament.
Baroda Crash Out on NRR Despite 391-Run Blitz
Baroda endured a cruel exit from the Vijay Hazare Trophy, missing out on a quarter-final berth on net run rate despite producing one of the most dominant performances of the tournament. Needing a big win to stay in contention, Baroda crushed Chandigarh by 149 runs after piling up a mammoth 391 all out, highlighted by Priyanshu Moliya’s 113, Hardik Pandya’s blistering 31-ball 75 and rapid fifties from Jitesh Sharma and Vishnu Solanki. However, Vidarbha’s emphatic victory elsewhere left Baroda short on net run rate, underlining the fine margins of the group stage where even such a commanding win was not enough to keep their knockout hopes alive.
Vidarbha Storm Into Quarters with 160-Run Rout of Assam
Vidarbha secured a crucial quarterfinal spot, thrashing Assam by 160 runs. Fifties from Atharva Taide (80) and Ravikumar Samarth (unbeaten) propelled Vidarbha to 308/7. Assam’s chase faltered at 148, despite skipper Sumit Ghadigaonkar’s unbeaten 80, as Parth Rekhade picked up 4/45 to seal the win.
Venkatesh Iyer Blitz Guides Madhya Pradesh Into Quarters
Madhya Pradesh crushed defending champions Karnataka by seven wickets in a must-win Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group A clash, sealing the second quarterfinal spot. Shivang Kumar starred with 5/45 to skittle Karnataka for 207, while Venkatesh Iyer’s blistering 65* off 33 balls powered MP to a rapid chase with 26.4 overs to spare.
Jadeja Stars as Saurashtra Beat Gujarat by 145 Runs
Saurashtra sealed their place in the knockout stage with a commanding 145-run victory over Gujarat, powered by a superb all-round performance from Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja anchored the innings with a fluent half-century before returning to claim three wickets, as Saurashtra dominated the contest to book their quarter-final berth in emphatic fashion.
Dhruv Jurel Scores 123 as UP Beats Bengal
Dhruv Jurel continued his rich vein of form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, smashing a fluent 123 off 96 balls to guide Uttar Pradesh to a five-wicket win over Bengal in an Elite Group B match in Rajkot. Chasing 270, the wicketkeeper-batter struck nine fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 128.13 as Uttar Pradesh overhauled the target in 42.2 overs, underlining his growing influence at the top order.
Maharashtra Edge Goa by 5 Runs
Maharashtra held their nerve to edge past Goa by just five runs in a thrilling Vijay Hazare Trophy clash. Chasing 250, Goa fought valiantly but were bowled out for 244 in 50 overs, with Maharashtra’s bowlers striking at crucial moments to secure the narrow win.
Maharashtra ended their innings at 249/7 in 50 overs, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 134 off 131 balls. Vicky Ostwal supported with 53 runs off 82 balls. Goa’s bowler V Koushik was the pick of the attack, claiming 3 wickets.
Group D – Ishant, Saini and Prince Star as Delhi Crush Haryana by Nine Wickets
Delhi produced a dominant all-round performance to register a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Haryana after bowling them out for just 105. The bowling attack was relentless, with Ishant Sharma, Navdeep Saini and Prince Yadav picking up three wickets apiece to dismantle Haryana’s batting lineup.
Chasing a modest target, Delhi made light work of the task as Nitish Rana anchored the innings with a fluent 57, steering his side home without any trouble.
Kerala’s Rash Batting Costs Them Must-Win Clash
Kerala’s batters paid the price for reckless strokeplay as they went down to Tamil Nadu by 77 runs in a must-win Elite Group A match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the ADSA Railway Ground, Ahmedabad.
Chasing 295, skipper Rohan Kunnummal gave Kerala a flying start with a brisk 73 off 45 balls, but his dismissal against the run of play triggered a collapse. Useful knocks from B. Aparajith (35) and Vishnu Vinod (35) briefly kept Kerala in contention before a flurry of ill-judged shots led to their downfall. On a slow, gripping surface, Tamil Nadu’s spinners tightened the noose as Kerala’s lower order crumbled, sealing a comprehensive victory for TN.
With the knockouts underway, the Vijay Hazare Trophy now enters its most unforgiving phase, where one poor session can end a title campaign. Several India hopefuls and established domestic stars will be under the spotlight as teams fight for a place in the semi-finals.
As the tournament heads into its decisive rounds, fans can expect high-intensity cricket, tactical battles, and match-defining individual performances, with the title race wide open among the final eight.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy has delivered high-scoring thrillers, outstanding individual performances, and tight finishes, setting the stage for an electrifying knockout phase.
Source: BCCI
