Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Jharkhand Review

One of the weirdest campaigns in recent times. Jharkhand started with a bang, recording the highest ever total in Vijay Hazare Trophy (which got eclipsed a few days later) also recording the second biggest victory margin, then won a couple of close games and lost the penultimate one. On the last day, they were still in pole position to qualify but a meagre total was overhauled in spectacular fashion by Andhra, who qualified on net run rate basis. 

Here is a game by game summary of this weird campaign 

Game 1: Jharkhand 422/9 (50) beat Madhya Pradesh 98/10 (18.4) by 324 runs 

Highlights: Ishan Kishan 173 off 94 balls & 7 catches (equals Indian List A record), Virat Singh 68, Sumit Kumar 52, Anukul Roy 72, Varun Aaron 6/37 

List A Debut: Bal Krishna, Kumar Kushagra, Rajandeep Singh 

• Jharkhand’s 422 was the highest score by an Indian domestic team breaking ironically Madhya Pradesh’s record. 
• This was the second biggest victory margin by runs in a List A game. 
• Ishan Kishan’s 5 catches off Varun Aaron also equalled the List A record for most bowler-fielder combination wickets in a single game. 

Game 2: Jharkhand 217/9 (50) beat Punjab 215/10 (45.5) by 2 runs 

Highlights: Utkarsh Singh 51, Shahbaz Nadeem 45* from No.9 and 2/36 

Game 3: Vidarbha 288/9 (50) lost to Jharkhand 294/7 (49/3) by 3 wickets 

Highlights: Vikash Singh 4/65, Kumar Doebrat 100, Rajandeep Singh 48* off 25 

Game 4: Tamil Nadu 266/7 (50) beat Jharkhand 199/9 (50) by 67 runs 

Highlights: Anukul Roy 3/41, Rahul Shukla 42* off 25 coming in at No.11 

• Meanwhile Mumbai broke Jharkhand’s record a day before by scoring 457 against Puducherry 

Game 5: Jharkhand 139/10 (46.2) lost to Andhra 140/3 (9.5) by 7 wickets 

Tournament Stats 

Highest Scorers 

1. Ishan Kishan 215 @ 43.00 with 1x100 
2. Virat Singh 188 @ 37.60 with 1x50 
3.  Anukul Roy 147 @ 29.40 with 1x50 

Top Innings: Ishan Kishan 173 vs Madhya Pradesh 

Most Wickets 

1. Varun Aaron 9 @ 20.44 
2. Bal Krishna 6 @ 27.60 
3. Rahul Shukla 6 @ 29.67 

Best Bowling: Varun Aaron 6/37 vs Madhya Pradesh 

Player Count: 14 

List A Debuts: 3 

A tournament which opened with a bang ended in a hiding for the Jharkhand team. A helter-skelter chase by Andhra dropped them from the group toppers to 3rd place knocking them out of the tournament! Surprisingly no game for Saurabh Tiwary. 

Ishan Kishan’s fireworks on the opening day did secure him a maiden Indian callup. 

Lets see what’s next for the Jharkhand team.