The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 delivered an unprecedented spectacle as Assam and Services clashed in what would become the shortest completed match in the history of the tournament – ending in just 90 overs. The two-day encounter at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground, Kachujan, witnessed dramatic collapses, two hat-tricks in one innings and 32 wickets falling in breathtaking succession.
Historic collapse as Services triumph by eight wickets
Services completed an impressive eight-wicket win after dismantling Assam twice in two days. Assam’s batting line-up endured a nightmare in their first innings and were bowled out for just 103 runs in 17.2 overs. The destruction was led by Arjun Sharma (5/46) and Mohit Jangra (3/5), both of whom achieved hat-tricks in the same innings – a feat never seen before in the Ranji Trophy or the history of first-class cricket.
Assam opener Pradyun Saikia fought briefly with a counter-attack of 52 off 42 balls, while Riyan Parag added a solid 36, but the rest of the batting line-up folded meekly. Services responded with a modest 108 all out, while Riyan Parag posted a career-best 5/25, supplemented by Rahul Singh’s 4/44, leaving Assam marginally in the match.
Assam’s batting woes continue in the second innings
Assam’s second innings offered no respite as they once again collapsed for 75 runs in 29.3 overs. Their batting unit crumbled under relentless pressure, with four players registering ducks and only three reaching double figures. Arjun Sharma continued his dream match to claim 4/20 as the rest of the Services attack maintained tight discipline.
Chasing just 71 runs for victory on the second morning, Services wrapped up the match in 13.5 overs to finish at 72/2 with Riyan Parag taking both wickets. The one-sided result capped a record-breaking, whirlwind match that defied conventional first-class expectations.
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A record-breaking encounter in Indian cricket history
The match in Tinsukia officially became the shortest completed match in the history of the Ranji Trophy, surpassing the previous record of 547 balls set in a 1962 encounter between Delhi and Railways. The duration of 540 balls also makes the game among the shortest matches in first-class cricket worldwide, behind only the 2004–05 match between Faisalabad and Karachi Blues (85 balls after forfeit) and the 1851 Tasmania-Victoria match (352 balls).
The extraordinary match also broke a 91-year Ranji milestone and overtook the 1934 Madras-Mysore match which lasted 100.5 overs. With 25 wickets falling on Day 1 and the remaining seven on the second morning, the pace of play left players, umpires and fans bewildered.
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