Punjab Vs Uttarakhand Highlights, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Kunal Chandela’s Century Leads UT To Five-Wicket Win

Good Morning to each and everyone joining us for the Punjab Vs Uttarakhand live coverage. This is the start of our blog, stay tuned for all the live updates, scores and more.

Uttarakhand have won the toss and have opted to field first against Punjab.

Uttarakhand (Playing XI): Kunal Chandela(c), Yuvraj Chaudhary, Shashwat Dangwal, Kamal Singh, Saurabh Rawat(w), Jagadeesha Suchith, Mayank Mishra, Abhay Negi, Jagmohan Nagarkoti, Devendra Singh Bora, Nikhil Harsh

Punjab (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma(c), Prabhsimran Singh(w), Anmolpreet Singh, Salil Arora, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, Krish Bhagat, Sukhdeep Bajwa, Gurnoor Brar, Harpreet Brar, Raghu Sharma

Punjab are off to a lively start at 53 for 1 in 6.3 overs, but there’s a small dent in the momentum. Prabhsimran Singh looked in good touch, mixing his strokes nicely and even clearing the ropes once, before Jagmohan Nagarkoti hit back for Delhi. A sharp catch by Kunal Chandela ends Prabhsimran’s stay at 28 off 23, just when Punjab were starting to motor.

At the other end, Abhishek Sharma is unfazed. The captain is timing the ball sweetly, five boundaries already in his unbeaten 22 off 16, keeping the scoreboard ticking and the pressure right back on the bowlers. Punjab are still moving briskly, one wicket down, intent very much intact.

Big moment in the game and a massive wicket falls. Abhishek Sharma had been the glue holding the innings together, striking five crisp boundaries and a six in his 30 off 26, but Abhay Negi finally breaks through.

Harsh Rana settles under it and takes a clean catch, and suddenly Punjab lose their captain. The score reads 70 for 3 after 13 overs, and what looked comfortable a while ago has quickly turned tense.

Punjab are in trouble as wickets keep tumbling and partnerships refuse to click. Ramandeep Singh walks back cheaply for just 1, caught by Suchith J off Mayank Mishra, leaving the side reeling at 100 for 5 after 20 overs.

Punjab’s innings is in a tricky spot, struggling to build partnerships. Salil Arora is holding one end well with 47 off 68, but wickets keep falling around him. Ramandeep Singh is caught cheaply for 1 off Mayank Mishra, and Harpreet Brar goes for 6, bowled by Suchith J.

At the other end, Krish Bhagat stays unbeaten on 27, trying to steady the ship, but Punjab need a big stand to recover.

Punjab face a hiccup as Salil Arora retires hurt on 65 off 84, having already anchored the innings with three boundaries. Sukhdeep Bajwa remains at the crease, unbeaten on 15 off 17, trying to steady things and keep the chase on track despite the setback.

Punjab script a superb recovery after early stutters, and Salil Arora is right at the heart of it. He anchors the innings with a composed 65 before retiring hurt, setting the platform for a late surge.

Krish Bhagat keeps the momentum rolling with a well-made 51, and then the cameos kick in, Sukhjeet Bajwa and Gurnoor Brar provide the finishing touches to lift the total to a competitive 269 for 8 at the end of 50 overs. A fightback built on grit, patience, and timely acceleration.

Uttarakhand are off to a solid start in their chase of 249, reaching 20 without loss in 5.5 overs. Kamal is steady on 12 off 24, while Yuvraj Choudhary is playing his shots with 8 off 13. The openers are laying a calm foundation, keeping the scoreboard ticking and setting up a platform for the middle order to take over.

Uttarakhand are slogging through a tricky chase of 270, struggling at 56 for 2 after 16.1 overs with the run rate crawling at 3.46. Kunal Chandela, the captain, is hanging in at 8 off 21, while Harsh Rana is trying to keep things ticking with 28 off 34, including four boundaries. The chase is far from smooth, and they need partnerships to revive their hopes.

Uttarakhand are making steady progress in their chase of 270, needing 137 more to win. Kunal Chandela brings up a well-deserved fifty, scoring 57 off 70 with three boundaries, while Harsh Rana adds 28 before being caught by Ramandeep Singh off Abhishek Sharma. Suchith stays unbeaten on 24, keeping the chase alive as the team looks to build momentum.

So close to a hundred now. Kunal Chandela is in complete control, unbeaten on 98 off 94, mixing patience with power as he edges towards a deserved century.

At the other end, Shashwat Dangwal has walked in with intent, striking a boundary in his quick 7 off 5. Uttarakhand are right in the chase, and all eyes are on Chandela as he eyes those final two runs.

Heartbreak right after a magnificent knock. Kunal Chandela is finally dismissed for a superb 118 off 114, bowled by Abhishek Sharma, just when he looked set to take the chase home. Five fours, five sixes, and total control for most of the innings, Chandela’s captain’s knock has carried the chase deep, and Uttarakhand now have to find a way without their main pillar.

Uttarakhand clinched a five-wicket win after chasing down 270, led by a magnificent 118 off 114 from captain Kunal Chandela. After his dismissal, Shashwat Dangwal’s unbeaten 51 ensured there were no late stumbles. Earlier, Punjab recovered well through Salil Arora (65) and Krish Bhagat (51), with late runs boosting the total, but Uttarakhand’s controlled chase proved decisive.

That’s a wrap! We’ll be back with another live blog soon. Bye for now.