Hyderabad celebrated a triumphant victory in the Take Sports-All India Buchi Babu Tournament, claiming the title with a dominant 243-run win over Chhattisgarh in the final match. The thrilling encounter concluded on Wednesday at the NPR College Ground in Natham, Tamil Nadu.
Hyderabad, led by captain Rahul Singh, entered the final day with a commanding first-innings lead, setting Chhattisgarh a daunting target of 518 runs in 90 overs. While Chhattisgarh displayed resilience and fight, they ultimately fell short against a well-prepared and determined Hyderabad side.
Chhattisgarh’s innings began with a promising start, thanks to a brilliant century from opener Ayush Pandey. Pandey, who scored 117 runs off 134 balls, and his opening partner Shashank Chandrakar (50 runs) forged a crucial 100-run partnership in just 103 balls, giving Chhattisgarh a glimmer of hope. Chandrakar particularly impressed with his aggressive approach, smashing two consecutive fours and a six in the second over.
However, Hyderabad’s bowling attack, led by the impressive Tanay Thyagarajan (5 wickets for 61 runs), steadily chipped away at Chhattisgarh’s batting lineup. Despite Pandey’s heroic effort, the spinners’ relentless pressure and the conducive pitch eventually turned the tide in Hyderabad’s favor.
Post-lunch, Pandey fought valiantly to reach his century, but the relentless Hyderabad bowling attack eventually wrapped up the innings at the stroke of tea. Hyderabad’s spinners played a pivotal role in the victory, keeping the pressure on Chhattisgarh throughout the match.
Following the victory, Hyderabad’s coach, Abhijit Chatterjee, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating, “It was an important tournament for us ahead of the season. We had some game plans we wanted to try, and we have shown what we are capable of.”
Captain Rahul Singh also shared his thoughts on the victory, emphasizing the importance of the tournament as a morale booster ahead of the upcoming season. “We wanted to play aggressive cricket and did it throughout the tournament. We did that in the Plate group last year, which was a bit easy, but we played against some good teams here. So that is a good sign for us ahead of the season,” he said.
The Buchi Babu Tournament win serves as a significant boost for Hyderabad as they prepare for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, where they will compete in the Elite Group. The team’s performance in the tournament showcased their determination and ability to overcome challenges, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
