Maharashtra vs Punjab in Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26: Group C Clash at Anantam Ground Promises High-Scoring Thriller Today
Cricket fans gear up for an electrifying List A showdown as Maharashtra faces Punjab in Match 15 of the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26, Group C encounter at Anantam Ground, Jaipur on December 24, 2025. This marquee battle pits Ruturaj Gaikwad’s experienced Maharashtra side against Punjab’s youthful batting firepower led by Prabhsimran Singh, with both teams hungry for early points in the tournament. The day game starting at 9:00 AM local time sets the stage for a high-octane 50-over contest on a batsman-friendly pitch.
Match Preview and Context
The Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26 kicks off with intense group-stage battles across clusters, and this Punjab vs Maharashtra fixture headlines Group C action in Jaipur. Maharashtra enters as defending quarter-finalists from the previous edition, where they stunned Punjab by 70 runs in a thrilling 3rd quarter-final at Kotambi Stadium, posting 275/6 before bundling out Punjab for 205. Punjab, known for producing IPL stars like Arshdeep Singh and Shashank Singh, seeks redemption after that heartbreak, relying on their top-order depth to chase down totals on Jaipur’s true-bounce surface.
Anantam Ground in Jaipur favors high scores, with average first-innings totals exceeding 260 in recent List A games, offering early pace assistance before spinners grip later. Clear skies, 22°C temperatures, and low humidity promise uninterrupted play, making toss a crucial factor—teams may bat first to capitalize on the fresh pitch. This match holds massive stakes: an early win propels either side atop the Group C points table alongside upcoming fixtures against Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Pondicherry, and Mumbai.
Head-to-head records tilt towards Maharashtra with 4 wins in 6 encounters, including a dominant 70-run victory in January 2025 and a 94-run thrashing in 2018. Punjab has struck back twice, notably chasing 192 in 2012, but recent form suggests Maharashtra’s balanced attack could exploit Punjab’s middle-order vulnerabilities.
Maharashtra Squad Analysis
Ruturaj Gaikwad captains a star-studded Maharashtra lineup blending IPL pedigree with domestic grit. Gaikwad (c), fresh from CSK duties, anchors the top order alongside explosive opener Prithvi Shaw, who boasts a strike rate over 130 in recent Vijay Hazare outings. Rahul Tripathi and Sachin Dhas provide middle-order stability, while wicketkeeper-batter Ankit Bawne and Nikhil Naik add finishing touches—Bawne’s 390 runs at 65 average in 10 matches highlight his consistency.
Bowling revolves around pace duo Rajneesh Gurbani and Rajvardhan Hangargekar, complemented by left-arm spinner Satyajeet Bachhav and veteran Jalaj Saxena’s all-round skills. Allrounders like Arshin Kulkarni and Siddhesh Veer offer balance, with Prashant Solanki as a mystery spinner option. Key stats: Maharashtra’s last five Vijay Hazare games show 3 wins, including that quarter-final triumph over Punjab.
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Top Batsmen to Watch: Prithvi Shaw (487 runs, 130.56 SR in 10 inns), Ruturaj Gaikwad (520 runs, 99.42 SR), Rahul Tripathi (573 runs, 136.75 SR).
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Bowling Strengths: Gurbani’s swing early on, Bachhav’s middle-over control (recent quarters hero).
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Weakness: Over-reliance on top three; lower order needs to fire if early wickets tumble.
Maharashtra’s strategy: Powerplay aggression from Shaw-Gaikwad, consolidate with Tripathi-Dhas, then unleash death-over hitters. Expect Hangargekar to target Punjab’s young top order with bouncers on Jaipur’s quick track.
Punjab Squad Breakdown
Punjab counters with a youth brigade featuring U-19 World Cup stars like Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Harnoor Singh, and Uday Saharan, backed by seasoned Anmolpreet Singh and Jashanpreet Singh. Prabhsimran’s explosive starts (86.66 avg, 99.42 SR in recent form) set the tone, while Saharan’s anchoring (81.85 avg) stabilizes innings. Salil Arora handles keeping duties, with finishers like Nehal Wadhera adding IPL flair.
Pace attack led by Baltej Dhanda and Yuzvendra Chahal’s spin wizardry—wait, no, Punjab’s bowlers include varied options like left-armer Harpreet Brar (if selected) and seamers Jaskaran Singh. Their domestic core shone in Ranji build-ups, but the quarter-final loss exposed chasing frailties under pressure.
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Batting Firepower: Prabhsimran-Harnoor openers (youthful aggression), Uday Saharan (middle-order rock), Anmolpreet (finisher).
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Bowling Arsenal: Seam movement early via Dhanda, spin control with part-timers.
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X-Factor: Saharan’s composure against Maharashtra spinners like Saxena.
Punjab’s gameplan: Aggressive powerplay to counter Maharashtra pacers, rotate strike in middle overs, target big totals knowing Jaipur chases succeed 60% of the time. They must avoid 2025 quarter-final collapse, where early momentum evaporated.
Venue Insights: Anantam Ground Jaipur
Anantam Ground hosts the Jaipur cluster for Vijay Hazare Elite Group C, featuring short boundaries and true bounce ideal for strokeplay. Day games here average 260+ first innings, with pacers claiming early wickets (new ball swings under clear skies) before spinners dominate post-30 overs. Recent matches saw totals like 300+ chased, rewarding teams batting deep.
Weather forecast: Sunny, 22°C, no rain—perfect for uninterrupted cricket. Capacity 5000+ ensures electric atmosphere with Jaipur’s neutral fans backing underdogs. Toss winner likely bats first, as dew minimal in day game.
Pitch stats (List A):
| Metric | Average |
|---|---|
| 1st Innings Score | 265+ |
| Highest Total | 320/7 |
| Pace Wickets % | 55% early |
| Spin Grip | Post-25 overs |
Teams adapt: Maharashtra’s seamers exploit fresh pitch; Punjab’s batsmen target square boundaries.
Head-to-Head History and Recent Form
Maharashtra leads 4-2 in last 6 meetings, peaking with January 2025’s 275/6 to 205 win—Gaikwad’s 80* and Bachhav’s 4-fer key. Punjab’s wins came via chases (192/8 in 2012, 66/4 in 2019), showing resilience but vulnerability defending.
Recent form:
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Maharashtra: W L W L W (Vijay Hazare incl. QF win vs Punjab).
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Punjab: Strong Ranji prep, but L in last H2H; youth form hot post-U19 WC.
This rivalry fuels state pride—Maharashtra’s urban polish vs Punjab’s warrior ethos. Past clashes averaged 550+ runs, promising fireworks today.
Players to Watch
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Maharashtra): Captain’s knock expected; 520 runs at 86.66 avg. His cover drives dismantle Punjab seamers.
Prithvi Shaw (Maharashtra): Strike rate 130+; Jaipur bounce suits his lofted shots—watch powerplay assault.
Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab): WK-opener’s 99.42 SR; aggressive vs spin, key to early momentum.
Uday Saharan (Punjab): U19 hero, 81.85 avg; anchors vs Maharashtra allrounders.
Satyajeet Bachhav (Maharashtra): Last H2H star; left-arm spin to trap Punjab middle order.
Anmolpreet Singh (Punjab): Finisher with IPL chops; death overs threat.
Fantasy picks: Gaikwad (c), Prabhsimran (vc), Bachhav for points haul.
Tactical Battlegrounds
Powerplay (Overs 1-10): Shaw-Prabhsimran fireworks vs Gurbani-Dhanda swing. First 50 runs decide momentum.
Middle Overs (11-40): Saxena-Bachhav vs Saharan-Anmolpreet rotation. Spin grip tests technique.
Death (41-50): Tripathi-Dhas vs Brar-Chahal yorkers. High-scoring end looms.
Batting first target: 280+; chasing blueprint: 20-over start at 120/2. Toss bias: Bat first (65% wins).
Tournament Stakes for Group C
Group C features Maharashtra, Punjab, Mumbai, Kerala, Pondicherry, UP—top two advance to knockouts. Early win catapults to pole position ahead of Dec 27 (Mah vs UP), Dec 29 (Pun vs Kerala). Maharashtra eyes semis repeat; Punjab redemption arc post-Ranji solidity.
Points table (pre-match—all 0):
| Team | M | W | L | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Punjab | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mumbai | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Win here builds “Maha” momentum into 2026 domestics.
Broader State Rivalry Context
Beyond cricket, Punjab vs Maharashtra symbolizes North-South divide: Punjab’s agrarian grit (despite fiscal woes) vs Maharashtra’s industrial might (top GDP state). Sports unites—recent Ranji clashes (Punjab edge) add spice. Vijay Hazare stars like Gaikwad (CSK), Shaw feed IPL pipelines, amplifying stakes.