Vihaan Malhotra smashes brilliant hundred on first-class debut for Punjab vs Assam in Ranji Trophy 2026

Vihaan Malhotra century Ranji Trophy became a major talking point after the 19-year-old Punjab batter scored a brilliant hundred on his first-class debut against Assam in the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy. The young left-hander scored 103 runs off 208 balls, hitting 11 fours and showing impressive patience against an experienced bowling attack. His performance has added another exciting chapter to his rise in Indian cricket.

The Punjab vs Assam Ranji Trophy 2026 match is being played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Punjab won the toss and elected to bowl first, but Assam responded with a massive 373 in their first innings. Sibsankar Roy scored 143, while Denish Das contributed 103. Umesh Yadav led Punjab's bowling attack with five wickets for 70 runs.

In reply, Punjab reached 238/5 after 80.1 overs, trailing Assam by 135 runs at that stage. The highlight was the Vihaan Malhotra first-class debut hundred, which helped Punjab build a steady response after losing early wickets. The youngster shared a century opening stand with Harnoor Singh, who scored 54 off 132 balls. His composed innings has also brought fresh attention to the Vihaan Malhotra RCB rising star story ahead of his future opportunities in professional cricket.

Vihaan Malhotra's debut first-class century for Punjab: How he dominated Assam in Ranji Trophy 2026

The Vihaan Malhotra Punjab vs Assam Ranji Trophy 2026 innings was built on patience and solid shot selection. Facing 208 balls, the Punjab opener scored 103 runs and struck 11 boundaries without hitting a six. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, he focused on rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. His innings was especially important because Assam had already posted 373, putting pressure on Punjab to make a strong reply.

The left-handed batter found good support from Harnoor Singh, who scored 54 before being dismissed by Swarupam Purkayastha. The pair helped Punjab settle after the early stages of the innings. After the opening partnership ended, Uday Saharan added 30, while Jashanpreet Singh Sidhu contributed 22. Malhotra eventually fell leg before wicket to Mukhtar Hussain, but his century had already given Punjab a valuable platform in the match.

At 238/5, Punjab still had work to do to catch Assam's first-innings total. Ramandeep Singh and Salil Arora were at the crease. For Assam, Swarupam Purkayastha had taken two wickets, while Amlanjyoti Paresh Das and Mukhtar Hussain had one each. The Vihaan Malhotra debut first-class cricket performance remained the biggest positive for Punjab as they looked to reduce the deficit.

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Who is Vihaan Malhotra? everything you need to know about RCB's rising star and Punjab centurion

Vihaan Malhotra Born on January 1, 2007, in Patiala, Punjab, the youngster is a promising Indian batter who has represented the country at Under-19 level. He was part of India's 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning squad and served as vice-captain. His calm approach at the crease and ability to build an innings have made him one to watch in the next generation of Indian cricket.

The youngster also made headlines with his Vihaan Malhotra U19 World Cup hundred, scoring an unbeaten 109 against Zimbabwe during the 2026 tournament. He finished the competition with 240 runs across seven matches, averaging 60. He also contributed with his right-arm off-spin, taking five wickets. In domestic T20 cricket, he impressed for the Fazilka Falcons in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, scoring an unbeaten 103 off 52 balls. That Sher-E-Punjab T20 hundred further highlighted his ability to adapt to different formats.

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The Vihaan Malhotra RCB connection has added to the interest around his career. Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed him for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction, giving the young batter an opportunity to develop within a major franchise setup. After making an impact in youth cricket, T20 competitions and now first-class cricket, he has recorded three hundreds across three formats and levels of competition. His Ranji Trophy debut century is another important step, and consistent performances could strengthen his chances of earning bigger opportunities in Indian cricket.

Brief Scores: Assam 373 (Sibsankar Roy 143, Denish Das 103, Umesh Yadav 5/70) vs Punjab 238/5 (Vihaan Malhotra 103, Harnoor Singh 54, Swarupam Purkayastha 2/35) — Punjab trail by 135 runs after 80.1 overs.*