Hyderabad Battles Fatigue as Rajasthan Welcomes Them in Round 4 Clash of Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Hyderabad aims to strengthen its lead at the top of Group D as it faces off against Rajasthan in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium this Saturday. The team enters this encounter on a high note, having secured a challenging four-wicket victory against Himachal Pradesh in Nadaun, largely thanks to Abhirath Reddy’s first-ever century in the Ranji Trophy.

After two away games, Hyderabad is eager to perform on its home ground and further solidify its standing in the league.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, comes into this match with mixed results. They kicked off their campaign with a resounding nine-wicket win over Chhattisgarh but subsequently suffered an innings and 41-run defeat to Jammu & Kashmir. Their most recent game ended in a draw against Mumbai, despite impressive performances from Deepak Hooda, who scored a double century, and Kartik Sharma, who notched a century, raising hopes for a victory against the 42-time champions.

With a flat pitch expected, both teams’ strong batting lineups will be a critical factor, though Hyderabad’s head coach Ravi Teja points out the importance of the bowlers’ role. He remarked, “The wicket is favorable for batting, but effective use of the new ball can make a significant difference,” adding that the team winning the toss could gain an advantage.

Kukna Ajay Singh and Ashok Sharma, who recently applied pressure on Mumbai, will look to continue their good form. Meanwhile, Hyderabad is counting on spinner Thanay Thyagarajan, who has successfully claimed 11 wickets in just two matches since his comeback from injury. With all players fit for selection, it will be interesting to see if Anikethreddy, who was the second-highest wicket-taker (29) for the team last season behind Thanay (35), will be included in the starting lineup.

Published on November 7, 2025.