Andhra qualifies for Ranji Trophy knock-outs with big win

Andhra qualified for the Ranji Trophy knock-out phase after finishing second in Elite Group A with 31 points. Led by Ricky Bhui and mentored by Gary Stead, the team will face Bengal in the quarterfinal, keeping title hopes alive

Hyderabad: Andhra’s campaign in search of a maiden Ranji Trophy title seems well on course as the team qualified for the knock-out phase in style, finishing second in Elite Group A with 31 points (behind topper Jharkhand) after a massive win against Meghalaya in an away game on Sunday.

For the record, Andhra will take on Bengal in the quarterfinal.

---

Andhra, led by seasoned campaigner Ricky Bhui, owed its impressive run this season to New Zealander Gary Stead, who has been mentoring the team and ensured a refreshing touch to the campaign with emphasis on self-belief and collective effort.

To make it to the knock-out phase from Group A, which has teams like Uttar Pradesh, Baroda, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Vidarbha and Nagaland, was truly remarkable.

Andhra Cricket Association Apex Council’s bold move to hire Gary Stead seemed to have been a huge success given the way the players responded to the need of the hour.

According to a senior ACA official, the entire support staff under Gary Stead has ensured total transformation in the way Andhra approached its campaign this season, besides fostering discipline and positive vibes in the dressing room.

It was a collective effort thanks to contributions from India stars KS Bharat (369 runs), CR Gnaneshwar (239), SK Rasheed (573 runs), Abhishek Reddy (582), Karan Shinde (274), Saurabh Kumar (270), who chipped in when needed most. In bowling, K Sai Teja (21 wickets), T Vijay (23 wickets), Saurabh Kumar (30 wickets) and KV Sasikanth (10) combined impressively, the official said.

India all-rounder K Nitish Kumar Reddy, who played just one Ranji match as he was with the Indian team, is expected to play a key role in the knock-out phase for Andhra.

The ACA Apex Council hopes this could be the year when Andhra pulls off the biggest surprise ever in Ranji Trophy.