Vidarbha Gain Upper Hand Over Delhi as Punjab Hold Firm vs MP

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 quarterfinals continued on January 13, 2026, with two crucial knockout clashes at the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds, as teams vied for the remaining semifinal spots. In the third quarterfinal at CoE Ground 1, Punjab faced Madhya Pradesh, while the fourth quarterfinal at CoE Ground 2 pitted Delhi against Vidarbha. These matches followed the previous day's results, where Karnataka and Saurashtra advanced to the semifinals.

In the Punjab vs. Madhya Pradesh encounter, Madhya Pradesh captain Venkatesh Iyer won the toss and elected to field first. Punjab's aggressive top order, featuring openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh, aimed to build early momentum after topping their group. Madhya Pradesh, buoyed by their strong group-stage performance, including a win over Karnataka, relied on their middle-order depth and spin options to counter Punjab's batting firepower. Early updates showed Punjab starting steadily, with the scoreboard reflecting cautious progress in the initial overs as both sides adjusted to the conditions.

The Delhi vs. Vidarbha match saw Delhi captain Ishant Sharma (standing in for the absent Rishabh Pant) win the toss and opt to bowl. Vidarbha, last season's runners-up known for their disciplined bowling and resilient approach, opened with Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade. Early exchanges featured Vidarbha gaining momentum, with scores reaching around 31/1 in the powerplay as they navigated Delhi's pace attack, including Ishant Sharma, who claimed an early wicket. Delhi's star-studded lineup, including Priyansh Arya and Nitish Rana, prepared to chase, setting up a tense battle between Vidarbha's grind-it-out style and Delhi's individual brilliance.

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These quarterfinals highlighted contrasting team dynamics: Punjab's high-octane batting against Madhya Pradesh's balanced unit and Delhi's consistency challenges versus Vidarbha's clinical execution. The winners would join Karnataka and Saurashtra in the semifinals, with live scorecards available on major platforms for real-time ball-by-ball updates. Fans anticipated competitive cricket, given the high stakes and form of key players like Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar, and the openers from Punjab.

The matches underscored the depth of domestic cricket in India, where emerging talents and experienced campaigners compete fiercely in the 50-over format. As the day progressed, both games promised thrilling contests, with potential for big individual performances to decide the outcomes and shape the path to the final.

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