Rajat Patidar, the captain of Madhya Pradesh, hit his maiden double hundred in Ranji Trophy on day three of the opening round clash of the 2025-26 season against Punjab at the Emerald Heights International
School Ground in Indore. The 32-year-old, who has played three Test matches for India in recent years, also went past the 200-run mark for the first-time in his first-class career, to help put Madhya Pradesh in a strong position, leading by 287 runs in the first innings with a day remaining in the contest.
After bundling out Punjab for just 232 runs in 84.5 overs in the third session on day one of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 clash with a six-wicket haul from Saransh Jain, Madhya Pradesh were 98/3 on day two when Rajat Patidar walked to the crease. He and Saransh Jain shared a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket before Venkatesh Iyer joined him at the crease, batting at No. 6, and the fortunes of Madhya Pradesh changed drastically for the better.
Rajat Patidar is currently not out on 205 in 332 with 26 fours to his name
These two Indian internationals shared a 147-run stand for the fifth wicket securing the all-important first innings lead for Madhya Pradesh before Iyer got dismissed for a well made 73 off 114 with seven fours and one six. At the other end, Patidar kept his efforts going with the bat, reaching the 16th hundred in his first-class career and sharing key 50+ partnerships with Saransh Jain and Sagar Solanki in the lower order, to take Madhya Pradesh past 400 runs before their eighth wicket fell.
For the ninth wicket, Rajat Patidar, who is currently not out on 205 in 332 with 26 fours, has shared an unbeaten 95-run stand with No. 10 Arshad Khan before stumps on day three. Khan, who is associated with Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), feasted on the tired and hapless Punjab bowling attack in the third session on day three, scoring 60* off 60 with three fours and five sixes.
Madhya Pradesh will be looking to extend their lead past 300 runs on day four before trying to bowl out Punjab in their second innings to win the Ranji Trophy clash outright.
