Vijay Hazare Trophy: Arshin Kulkarni belts robust 114 as Maharashtra inflict first defeat to Mumbai

Maharashtra rode on Arshin Kulkarni's scintillating century to register a dominant 128-run win over Mumbai in their Vijay Hazare Trophy Group C encounter on January 3. The foundation of their massive total was a formidable 140-run opening partnership between Arshin Kulkarni and Prithvi Shaw. Kulkarni, who was retained by LSG for IPL 2026, led the way with a composed 114 off 114 balls, while Shaw provided fluent support with a 75-ball 71 before Maharashtra eventually posted a daunting 366/4.

Arshin Kulkarni's ton in Maharashtra's big win over Mumbai

The middle order ensured the momentum never stalled, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad contributing a brisk 66 off 52 deliveries. However, the standout performance came from Ramakrishna Ghosh, who dismantled the Mumbai bowling attack with an explosive unbeaten 64. His cameo, which lasted just 27 balls and included five towering sixes, effectively took the game away from Mumbai by pushing the target well beyond the 350-mark.

In response, Mumbai’s chase faltered early as star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for just 3. While Angkrish Raghuvanshi kept their slim hopes alive with a resilient 92 and Siddhesh Lad contributed a half-century, the mounting asking rate proved insurmountable. Mumbai was eventually bowled out for 238 in 42 overs, as Pradeep Dadhe and Satyajeet Bachhav combined to take five wickets, handing Mumbai their first defeat of the tournament.

Despite the loss, Mumbai remains tied at the top of the Group C table with Punjab on 16 points. Maharashtra’s third win of the season moves them into third place with 12 points, keeping their knockout aspirations firmly alive.

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Punjab demolish Sikkim

In another match, Punjab asserted their dominance in Group C with a clinical ten-wicket demolition of Sikkim. The match was a completely one-sided affair, as Punjab’s bowling attack, led by India pacer Arshdeep Singh, tore through the opposition after opting to field first. Arshdeep was the standout performer, claiming a superb five-wicket haul for just 34 runs in his 10-over spell, effectively dismantling Sikkim's batting order before they were bundled out for a mere 75 in 22.2 overs.

Sikkim's struggle was evident from the outset, with only Palzor Tamang offering minor resistance by top-scoring with a 22-ball 13. Aside from Arshdeep’s masterclass, Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa and Mayank Markande provided valuable support, picking up two wickets apiece to ensure there was no recovery for the lower order.

The chase was a mere formality as Punjab’s openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Harnoor Singh, made short work of the target. Prabhsimran was particularly aggressive, smashing an unbeaten 53 off just 26 balls, while Harnoor remained steady with 22 not out. The duo reached the target in a staggering 6.2 overs, a result that has significantly bolstered Punjab’s net run rate as they continue their push for the top spot in the group standings.