Sanvir Singh 205 rescues Punjab; says a few days' practice will suffice for white-ball

Sanvir Singh scored 205 for Punjab against Andhra in a Ranji Trophy match at New Chandigarh on November 7, 2026, rescuing the hosts from 71 for five after 22.1 overs. The innings came in his first match of the season.

Sanvir had been out of the side before this match and described the knock as timely: "It felt really good because this was my first match of the season. I came in at a crucial stage. Salil (Arora) and I batted through that session, and after that, we piled on the runs," Sanvir told The Hindu in an exclusive interview. With moisture making batting difficult initially, the pair opted for patience rather than aggression and he added, "We weren’t thinking about any target. We were just playing sessions." As the surface baked under the afternoon sun the moisture dried up, making batting easier and the 30-year-old made the most of it on his way to a maiden double-hundred.

Sanvir walked in on the first morning as wickets tumbled and his innings provided the platform that the report described as laying the foundation for a mammoth total. He negotiated the difficult early period before accelerating when conditions eased. The rescue altered the match trajectory after Punjab had lost quick wickets.

With the Ranji Trophy set to take a two-month break, attention now shifts to white-ball cricket. Sanvir, who was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup in 2023 and 2024, said a few days of practice would be sufficient to adjust to the change in formats. That short preparation, he indicated, is what he expects to use ahead of the white-ball window.

"I just want to enjoy my game and contribute to my team’s wins, in whatever format I play and for whichever team I play," he said.