Andhra Pradesh Edge Past Tamil Nadu in Close Ranji Trophy Clash

When the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match between Tamil Nadu and Andhra began on November 10, 2025, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the game was delicately poised. Tamil Nadu, resuming at 102 for 3 in their second innings, needed to build a substantial lead after a low-scoring first innings battle on the previous two days. Andhra, trailing by just five runs after their first innings, were eyeing a quick wrap-up of Tamil Nadu’s innings to chase a manageable target.

Day 1 and 2 Recap

On Day 1, Tamil Nadu, having won the toss and elected to bat, were bundled out for a modest 182 in 74.3 overs. Young opener Vimal Khumar top-scored with a gritty 10, but the innings never gained momentum. Prithvi Raj was the wrecker-in-chief for Andhra, claiming 4 for 46 in 17 overs, while Kavuri Saiteja and Kalidindi Raju chipped in with crucial wickets. Andhra’s reply was equally shaky, slumping to 20 for 3 by stumps, with Sandeep Warrier and Trilok Nag striking early blows. Shaik Rasheed, unbeaten on 8, and Tripurana Vijay held fort, but Andhra were still 162 runs behind.

A solid day for Tamil Nadu! A quick fifty from Sachin B helps the team take a 107-run lead at stumps on Day 3️⃣. 🏏#APvTN #RanjiTrophy #TamilNaduCricket #TNCA #TNCricket pic.twitter.com/HIBFj6JuBP

— TNCA (@TNCACricket) November 9, 2025

Day 2 saw Andhra fight back to 177 all out in 49 overs, conceding a slender five-run lead. Rasheed’s patient 87 not out was the backbone of their innings, while Warrier’s 4 for 34 and Sai Kishore’s 2 for 38 kept Tamil Nadu in control. In their second innings, Tamil Nadu reached 102 for 3 by stumps, with Pradosh Ranjan Paul (26 not out) and Sai Kishore (0 not out) at the crease. Balasubramaniam Sachin’s 51 had provided some stability, but Prithvi Raj’s early strikes kept Andhra in the hunt.

Day 3

As Day 3 dawned, Tamil Nadu’s hopes rested on Paul and Sai Kishore to extend their lead beyond 200. The overnight pair started cautiously, aware that every run could prove decisive. Paul, known for his compact technique, looked to rotate the strike, while Sai Kishore, the captain, played with intent. The Andhra bowlers, led by Prithvi Raj and Saiteja, bowled tight lines, exploiting the early moisture. The breakthrough came in the 30th over when Prithvi Raj trapped Paul lbw for 29 off 49 balls, ending a 68-run stand for the fourth wicket. Sai Kishore followed soon after, lbw to Saurabh Kumar for 16, leaving Tamil Nadu at 127 for 5.

Baba Indrajith, Tamil Nadu’s most experienced batter, joined C Andre Siddarth, but the innings faltered again. Indrajith managed only 6 before Saurabh Kumar’s left-arm spin breached his defenses. At 130 for 6, Tamil Nadu were staring at collapse. Siddarth, however, showed remarkable composure for a lower-order batter. The left-hander, batting at No. 8, anchored the innings with a determined 33 off 77 balls. Sonu Yadav, known for his big-hitting, provided the late impetus, smashing 28 off 87 balls, including a crucial partnership with Siddarth.

Strong session for Tamil Nadu! Andre Siddharth and Sonu Yadav continue to build on the lead as they take control before lunch on Day 3️⃣. 🏏#APvTN #RanjiTrophy #TamilNaduCricket #TNCA #TNCricket pic.twitter.com/Ah3sl1gcm0

— TNCA (@TNCACricket) November 10, 2025

The duo added 60 runs for the seventh wicket, frustrating Andhra’s bowlers. Saurabh Kumar, bowling his heart out, finally broke the stand by trapping Yadav lbw in the 66th over. Tripurana Vijay, introduced late, struck immediately, dismissing Siddarth caught behind in the next over. P Vidyuth and Trilok Nag fell cheaply, but Sandeep Warrier’s unbeaten 0 ensured Tamil Nadu crossed 195 before Saurabh Kumar cleaned up Nag in the 70.3rd over. Tamil Nadu’s second innings lasted 70.3 overs, yielding 195 runs at a run rate of 2.76. Saurabh Kumar was the star with 4 for 64 in 18.3 overs, while Prithvi Raj and Vijay took two wickets each. Andhra needed 201 to win, a tricky but achievable target on a wearing pitch.

Andhra’s chase began aggressively. Abhishek Reddy, who had scored 70 in the first innings to earn Player of the Match, took the attack to Tamil Nadu’s pacers. Alongside Srikar Bharat, he raced to 41 in just 5.3 overs. Sai Kishore, sensing the need for a breakthrough, brought himself on and struck immediately, bowling Bharat for 5. Reddy, undeterred, continued to dominate, finding boundaries with ease. His 70 off 75 balls, studded with 10 fours, was a masterclass in pacing a chase. He shared a 72-run second-wicket stand with Karan Shinde, who played the perfect foil with a gritty 51 off 64 balls.

Tamil Nadu’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs. Warrier and Trilok Nag bowled with fire but lacked luck, while Sonu Yadav’s medium pace was expensive. Sai Kishore, however, turned the game with a double strike in the 19th over. Reddy was trapped lbw for 70, and Saurabh Kumar fell for a duck soon after, leaving Andhra at 158 for 4. Shinde’s dismissal in the 27th over, caught by Vimal Khumar off Pradosh Ranjan Paul, sparked a collapse. P Vidyuth, the young off-spinner, then ran through the middle order, dismissing Shaik Rasheed (7) and Ricky Bhui (2) in quick succession. At 162 for 6, Andhra were wobbling, with 39 runs still needed.

Abhishek Reddy 52 runs in 48 balls (9×4, 0x6) Andhra 77/1 #APvTN #RanjiTrophy #Elite Scorecard:https://t.co/EkjYtN15sZ

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 10, 2025

Ashwin Hebbar and Kalidindi Raju, however, held their nerve. Hebbar, batting at No. 7, played with assurance, scoring 21 not out off 32 balls. Raju, making his first-class debut, showed maturity beyond his years, contributing 20 not out off 34 balls. The pair added an unbeaten 39 for the seventh wicket, steering Andhra to 201 for 6 in 41.2 overs. Vidyuth was the pick of Tamil Nadu’s bowlers with 3 for 37, while Sai Kishore took 3 for 46. Warrier, despite his first-innings heroics, went wicketless in the second.

The match ended with Andhra’s players celebrating a hard-fought victory, their first points of the season. Abhishek Reddy’s twin contributions with the bat earned him the Player of the Match award. For Tamil Nadu, the loss was a blow, leaving them winless in the season with just 4 points from 6 games. Andhra, with 15 points, climbed to second in Elite Group A, behind Jammu & Kashmir.

Prithvi Raj’s 6 wickets across both innings and Saurabh Kumar’s 8 wickets, including a four-for in the second innings, were decisive. For Tamil Nadu, Warrier’s 8 wickets in the match and Sai Kishore’s all-round effort (46 runs and 5 wickets) were bright spots, but their batting frailties were exposed. The absence of consistent partnerships, especially in the top order, cost them dearly.

Andhra Won by 4 Wicket(s) #APvTN #RanjiTrophy #Elite Scorecard:https://t.co/EkjYtN15sZ

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 10, 2025

The Visakhapatnam track, traditionally batsman-friendly, surprised everyone with its assistance to bowlers. The first innings totals of 182 and 177 set the tone, and the second innings saw both teams struggle to accelerate.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

For the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game, Sai Kishore’s bowling spell was pure brilliance in Andhra’s chase of 201. The left-arm spinner turned the match on its head with a mesmerising display of control and guile. Coming into the attack early, he struck in his very first over, trapping the dangerous Srikar Bharat, who had bowled for just 5, breaking a promising opening stand. But that was just the start. Sai Kishore kept flighting the ball, varying pace and turn to keep batsmen guessing.

His best came in the middle overs. With Abhishek Reddy looking set on 70, Sai Kishore drifted one in, got a sharp turn and bounce, and won a plumb LBW decision – a massive wicket at a crucial time. He wasn’t done. In his next spell, he clean bowled Shaik Rasheed and later removed Saurabh Kumar, caught in the deep, finishing with outstanding figures of 15-0-46-3. His economy of 3.06 in a high-pressure run chase was exceptional.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Being the standout performer in Andhra’s thrilling chase of 201 runs in their second innings, Abhishek Reddy earned the TCNI Hero of the Day title for his gritty knock of 70 off 75 balls. Facing a tough Tamil Nadu bowling attack on a tricky pitch, the opener showed amazing patience and skill right from the start. He built a solid foundation with a 41-run partnership for the first wicket alongside Srikar Bharat, who fell early for 5.

Andhra won by 4 wickets against TN @ Vizag.@Andhra#APvTN #ranjitrophy2025 #RanjiTrophy #Andhra #AndhraCricket #ACAhttps://t.co/KB7dU541ei pic.twitter.com/4WbiNaS4jq

— విరాట్ వీర్ (@viratveer039) November 10, 2025

Reddy kept the scoreboard ticking with smart cricket shots, hitting 11 fours at a strike rate of 93.33. His best phase came between overs 5 to 19, where he formed a crucial 72-run stand with Karan Shinde, steadying the innings after the early loss. Even as wickets tumbled around him, Andhra slipped from 113/1 to 162/6, Reddy stayed calm until he was trapped LBW by spinner Sai Kishore in the 20th over.