Punjab Qualifies for Vijay Hazare Trophy Semi-Final with Dominant 183-Run Victory Over Madhya Pradesh

Bengaluru – Punjab stormed into the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 with a commanding 183-run victory over Madhya Pradesh in the third quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Prabhsimran Singh's Masterclass Sets Up Victory

Captain Prabhsimran Singh led from the front with a brilliant 88 off 86 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award. After Madhya Pradesh opted to bowl first, Punjab's opening pair laid a solid foundation with a 116-run partnership.

Harnoor Singh contributed 51 runs off 71 balls before falling in the 22nd over, while Prabhsimran smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes to anchor the innings.

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Middle-Order Fireworks Propel Punjab to 345

The middle order capitalized on the strong start as Anmolpreet Singh blasted 70 off 62 deliveries with 8 fours and 2 sixes. The real acceleration came from Nehal Wadhera, whose explosive 56 off just 38 balls helped Punjab push past the 250-mark by the 41st over.

Ramandeep Singh (24 not out off 15) and Sanvir Singh (13 off 8) provided the finishing touches as Punjab posted a formidable 345/6 in their 50 overs. MP captain Venkatesh Iyer claimed 2-60, while Tripuresh Singh took 2-61.

Punjab Bowlers Dismantle Madhya Pradesh

Chasing 346, Madhya Pradesh crumbled to 162 all out in just 31.2 overs. Punjab's bowlers struck early, reducing MP to 57/4 within 14 overs, with captain Venkatesh Iyer dismissed for a duck.

Sanvir Singh was the pick of the bowlers with 3-31, while Gurnoor Brar (2-27), Krish Bhagat (2-28), and Ramandeep Singh (2-23) shared the remaining wickets. Rajat Patidar top-scored for MP with 38 off 40 balls, but it was nowhere near enough as Punjab's bowlers dominated throughout.

Road to Semi-Finals

Punjab topped Elite Group C with six wins and 24 points, losing only to Uttarakhand in the league phase. The team played without star all-rounder Abhishek Sharma, who has departed to prepare for India's T20I series against New Zealand starting January 21.

The semi-finals are scheduled for January 15 and 16 in Bengaluru, with the final set for January 18. Punjab will await their semi-final opponent as defending champions Karnataka and Delhi battle it out in the other quarter-finals.

With this comprehensive victory, Punjab has announced themselves as genuine contenders for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 title.