Vihaan Malhotra century keeps Punjab within reach against Assam in Ranji Trophy clash

Vihaan Malhotra scored a century on his first-class debut as Punjab finished day three on 287 for five against Assam in a Ranji Trophy round-one match at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on October 13, 2026. Punjab remained 86 runs behind Assam’s first-innings total of 373 at stumps after an opening stand of 137 between Malhotra and Harnoor Pannu.

The match, reduced to a first-innings shoot-out after rain washed out the opening day, swung back into contention when the left-handed pair of Malhotra and Harnoor compiled the 137-run partnership to steady Punjab. Malhotra reached 103 off 208 balls with 11 fours and Harnoor made 54 off 132 balls with seven fours; both batsmen attacked the off-side during the morning session. The contest had been drifting in Assam’s favour before that stand altered the balance.

Punjab then suffered a mid-session collapse, losing five wickets for 100 runs on either side of the tea interval. A sixth-wicket stand of 50 between Salil Arora and Emanjot Singh Chahal arrested the slide, leaving Punjab 287 for five at stumps and trailing by 86 runs.

Harnoor’s fifty, struck from 121 deliveries, ended when he misjudged a ball outside off from Sarupam Purkayastha and was caught behind after an on-drive off Amlanjyoti Das moments earlier. Uday Saharan, who had shown attacking intent, was trapped lbw by Purkayastha shortly after an on-field exchange with Sibsankar Roy. Malhotra survived a reprieve on 95 when a poke at a Mukhtar Hussain delivery was spilled by the wicketkeeper, and he also benefited from a no-ball when the stumps were disturbed, but was finally dismissed lbw by Mukhtar for 103.

Score details: Assam — 1st innings: 373. Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra lbw b Mukhtar 103, Harnoor Pannu c Ghadigaonkar b Purkayastha 54, Uday Saharan lbw b Purkayastha 30, Jashanpreet Sidhu lbw b Amlanjyoti 22, Ramandeep Singh (run out) Denish 17, Salil Arora (batting) 25, Emanjot Chahal (batting) 28; Extras (b-1, nb-7): 8; Total (for five wkts. in 96 overs): 287. Fall of wickets: 1-137, 2-195, 3-195, 4-226, 5-237. Assam bowling: Mukhtar 23-5-79-1, Dipjyoti 9-2-40-0, Amlanjyoti 25-2-54-1, Purkayastha 18-3-52-2, Mohit 21-2-61-0.

Assam conceded only 42 runs during the sequence that saw Ramandeep Singh run out and Jashanpreet Sidhu given out lbw to Amlanjyoti. With the second new ball just two overs old at stumps, Assam will resume on the fourth morning aiming to break the sixth-wicket partnership and exploit the tail thereafter.