Vijay Hazare Trophy: Saurashtra Beat Fancied Uttar Pradesh Via VJD Method, Enter Semi-Finals

Captain Harvik Desai led from the front with an unbeaten century as Saurashtra humbled fancied Uttar Pradesh by 17 runs via the VJD Method in a rain-interrupted Bengaluru game to enter the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Monday (January 12, 2026).

Despite missing in-form wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who had linked up with the Indian team after an injury to Rishabh Pant, Uttar Pradesh did well to put up a challenging total of 310 for eight after being invited to bat first. In reply, Saurashtra were 238 for three in 40.1 overs when rain stopped play, and they emerged winners after the V. Jayadevan (VJD) method was applied.

Saurashtra needed 77 runs in the last 10 overs, a very gettable proposition with their captain going strong. Desai was batting on exactly 100 off 116 balls when the match was halted, the skipper having figured in a vital second-wicket stand of 133 runs with Prerak Mankad (67 off 66 balls).

UP had headed into the quarterfinal clash at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on the back of a dominating group stage, where they finished unbeaten and booked their spot with confidence.

Their momentum was powered by a string of strong batting performances, including a century from Dhruv Jurel that anchored a key victory over Bengal to secure their seventh straight win.

UP’s top order, featuring consistent run-getters like Jurel and Aryan Juyal, had been aggressive and reliable, while captain Rinku Singh has provided finishing fire, a combination that makes them a formidable contender in knockout conditions.

Saurashtra, meanwhile, entered the quarterfinal with form of their own after finishing second in Group D, highlighted by impressive wins including a 31-run victory over Railways and a big 145-run triumph against Gujarat in their final league match.

Uttar Pradesh Vs Saurashtra, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Toss Update

Saurashtra won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Uttar Pradesh Vs Saurashtra, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Playing XIs

Uttar Pradesh: Abhishek Goswami, Aryan Juyal (WK), Karan Chaudhary, Prashant Veer, Priyam Garg, Rinku Singh (C), Rituraj Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vineet Panwar, Vipraj Nigam and Zeeshan Ansari

Saurashtra: Harvik Desai (C/WK), Chirag Jani, Ruchit Ahir, Vishvaraj Jadeja, Prerak Mankad, Sammar Gajjar, Parswaraj Rana, Aditya Jadeja, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Ankur Panwar and Chetan Sakariya

Uttar Pradesh Vs Saurashtra, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Squads

Saurashtra: Harvik Desai(w/c), Vishvaraj Jadeja, Prerak Mankad, Chirag Jani, Ruchit Ahir, Hetvik Kotak, Sammar Gajjar, Pranav Karia, Ankur Panwar, Chetan Sakariya, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Yuvraj Chudasama, Parth Bhut, Tarang Gohel, Jay Gohil, Ansh Gosai, Aditya Jadeja, Parswaraj Rana, Hiten Kanbi

Uttar Pradesh: Abhishek Goswami, Aryan Juyal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Priyam Garg, Rinku Singh(c), Sameer Rizvi, Prashant Veer, Vipraj Nigam, Kunal Tyagi, Zeeshan Ansari, Karan Chaudhary, Kartik Tyagi, Aaradhya Yadav, Shivam Sharma, Kartik Yadav, Vineet Panwar, Adarsh Singh, Rituraj Sharma, Vaibhav Chaudhary

(With PTI inputs)