VHT: Another RCB star after Padikkal roars with terrific ton to lead Baroda to 37-run win over Hyderabad

Baroda skipper and RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya struck a brilliant century to led his side to a stunning 37-run win over Hyderabad in their Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 clash on December 31. Not just him, even his RCB teammate Devdutt Padikkal cracked a stellar hundred in Karnataka's victory against Puducherry.

Krunal Pandya hammers robust century for Baroda

Pandya's century powered Baroda to a massive total of 417/4 against Hyderabad. Entering the crease after a strong foundation had already been laid, Krunal played a blistering unbeaten knock of 109 runs from just 63 deliveries. His innings was a masterclass in calculated aggression, characterized by clean hitting and elite fitness that kept the Hyderabad bowlers under constant duress.

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The groundwork for this colossal total was established by a phenomenal opening stand between Nitya Pandya and Amit Pasi. The pair dismantled the Hyderabad attack with a 230-run partnership that effectively took the game away from the opposition early on. Nitya anchored the innings with a composed 122 off 110 balls, while Pasi acted as the primary aggressor, smashing 127 runs off a mere 93 deliveries.

Baroda maintained their relentless momentum even after the openers departed. Despite a brief period where two wickets fell in quick succession, Krunal Pandya found a reliable partner in Bhanu Pania to prevent any loss of rhythm. Together, they shared an unbroken 115-run stand, with Pania contributing a quick-fire 42* off 27 balls to help the team finish with an imposing run rate of 8.34 per over.

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The afternoon was a nightmare for the Hyderabad bowling unit, which struggled to find answers for Baroda's depth. The scorecard reflected the carnage, as bowlers Rakshann and Nitin Yadav were particularly expensive, conceding 75 and 77 runs respectively.

Hyderabad's brave fightback, Baroda's last laugh

In reply, Hyderabad did put up a fight chasing a daunting total. They rode on Abhirath Reddy's 130 and Pragnay Reddy's 113 after losing openers Aman Rao and Tanmay Agarwal cheaply. However, Atit Sheth and Mahesh Pithiya's terrific three-fers thwarted Hyderabad's chase and folded them for 380.