Both Vidarbha and Punjab posted over 300 runs in their allotted 50 overs batting first at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and bundled out the opposition cheaply to claim massive victories and qualify for the semifinals of the 2025/26 season of the Top 4 batting performances from Day 8 of Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26

Devdutt Padikkal of Karnataka heads into the semifinal as the leading run getter of the season so far with 721 runs in eight innings at an average of 103, thanks to his four centuries and two half-centuries at a strike rate of more than 100.

A look at the top four batting performances from Day 9 of Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26

1.   Yash Rathod (Vidarbha)

Vidarbha’s middle-order batter, Yash Rathod, has enjoyed a decent record in List A cricket with an average of 42 for his close to 1000 runs hangs to his three centuries and three half centuries but in the last five clashes of the ongoing season of Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has got 29 runs in three innings which was a concern for the management heading into fourth quarter final against Delhi at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. 

However, walking out at 136/3 in 27 overs, he proved the finishing flourish to the side. After the dismissal of Atharva Taide, there was a need for someone to stay till the end, and Yash played a sensational knock of 86 at a strike rate of 117.81, thanks to his eight boundaries and two sixes to help them reach 300 in their 50 overs.

Brief Scores: Vidarbha 300/9 (Yash Rathod 86, Atharva Taide 62, Nitish Rana 2/19) beat Delhi 224 (Anuj Rawat 66, Nachiket Bhute 4/51, Harsh Dubey 3/36) by 76 runs.

2.   Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab)

Prabhsimran Singh has been in outstanding touch for Punjab at the opening spot in this season of the 50-over domestic format, as he celebrated two half-centuries in the last four innings against Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh with an aggressive batting approach. He continued the same style of batting against Madhya Pradesh in the third quarter-final.

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Along with Harnoor Singh, they put up an opening partnership of 116 runs where the captain and wicket-keeper batter smashed a fine knock of 88 runs at a strike rate of over 100, thanks to his ten boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Brief Scores: Punjab 345/6 (Prabhsimran Singh 88, Anmolpreet Singh 70, Venkatesh Iyer 2/60) beat Madhya Pradesh 162 (Rajat Patidar 38, Sanvir Singh 3/31) by 183 runs.

3.   Neal Wadhera (Punjab)

After Prabhsimran Singh’s 88 and Anmol Preet Singh’s 70-run knock at number three, it was important for someone from the middle order to provide Punjab the late fire in the death overs. Nihal Wadhera, who came into the 11 for this clash, blasted a splendid knock of 56 runs in 38 balls, thanks to his eight boundaries and one six.

Wadhera was in a fine touch during the last season of the Indian Premier League for the Punjab Kings, where he batted 15 times and managed 369 runs at a strike rate of over 145, which bailed the Kings out of trouble on most occasions.

Brief Scores: Punjab 345/6 (Prabhsimran Singh 88, Anmolpreet Singh 70, Venkatesh Iyer 2/60) beat Madhya Pradesh 162 (Rajat Patidar 38, Sanvir Singh 3/31) by 183 runs.

4.   Anmolpreet Singh (Punjab)

Punjab’s number three batter, Anmolpreet Singh, came into this game with a 50 on his back against Mumbai in the last clash, along with his 72 against Himachal Pradesh in the previous week. The right-handed batter has enjoyed a decent List A career with 2238 runs in 58 innings at an average of 43, with the help of six centuries and 14 half-centuries.

After a strong start of a 116-run opening partnership between Prabhsimran Singh and Harnoor Singh, Anmolpreet provided them the same fire, knocking off 70 runs in 62 balls with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes that pushed them to over 300 by the time he got dismissed.

Brief Scores: Punjab 345/6 (Prabhsimran Singh 88, Anmolpreet Singh 70, Venkatesh Iyer 2/60) beat Madhya Pradesh 162 (Rajat Patidar 38, Sanvir Singh 3/31) by 183 runs. 

The skipper and talismanic batter of the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Shreyas Iyer found himself in a very precarious situation. Much to the scare of the team's fans, their leader suffered a nasty blow to the index finger of his hand during a practice session one day before the match. He was seen chatting to the head coach, Ricky Ponting, about it and looked in disbelief. He, however, didn't pull out, and as captains are, gritty and dogged, he went along with it. The ice pack and magic spray came to his rescue for the time being, and only he knew for how long. 

Iyer usually bats one down in the order, but came further down. He could be seen struggling with donning his gloves, and eventually came in the middle at the fall of the third wicket of his team. He faced difficulties in timing the ball and was more often than not in a tentative state while batting in his brief and slow innings of 30 runs in 25 balls. His injured finger made him bat unlike his intrinsic self, and it was a worrying sign for everyone in the dugout and all of Punjab's faithful. 

In the second innings, the explosive batter didn't take the field. He was instead substituted, and Shashank Singh, the finisher, was handed over the captaincy duties. The stand-in captain was helped by Ricky Ponting and Shreyas too from the dugout. Punjab, in the end, managed a victory by 10 runs, and a favourable result in the match, scheduled later in the day, confirmed their playoff spot. 

🚨 A BIG SALUTE TO SHREYAS IYER 🚨

- Shreyas Iyer injured his index finger while training yesterday, he was in pain but played the important game for Punjab Kings. [Sahil Malhotra from TOI] pic.twitter.com/YHbskGnIbH

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2025

Shreyas Iyer is giving regular inputs to the players from boundary rope 👌

- Injured but giving everything for his team. pic.twitter.com/XQjI7KhmBt

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2025

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Shreyas has been in impeccable form this season, both with the bat and while leading the team. His bowling and fielding changes have been immaculate, and that has fetched the team immense success this season. He is also their second-highest run scorer after Prabhsimran Singh, and his impactful knocks have dealt an irreplaceable punch to the opposition. In an unfortunate scenario, if his finger is unable to heal in time for the rest of the matches in the season, PBKS will have a tough time in his absence and might have to rope in strong replacements.

While Shreyas Iyer is by far an irreplaceable asset for the Punjab Kings, here's a look at a few players who can potentially fill in his shoes for the remainder of the season -

Sarfaraz Khan

India's relatively newer test entrant was unlucky to miss out in the auction. He went unsold at a base price of Rs 50 lakhs, while his brother Musheer bagged a deal with PBKS. He has not had great IPL returns over the years, but his recent exploits with the Indian test team might bring about a change in his attitude and produce the explosive best out of him, if recruited by the Punjab franchise. It is also the time to reward him for his stringent fitness regime that he has been on, off-season.

Anmolpreet Singh

Prabhsimran Singh's cousin went unsold in the auction at a base price of 30 lakhs. Just a few weeks after that, he smashed the quickest List A hundred by an Indian, in 35 balls, and guided Punjab to a comprehensive victory over Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare match. Previously, he has been a part of the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, but without much impact and a low average. 

KS Bharat

Once in and out of the Indian test team, but still featuring in the World Test Championship final 2023, and now completely off the cards, Bharat can be a decent backup. Bharat, however, has not had many good moments in his IPL career and went unsold this time. His experience is a guarantee, and he has previously represented the Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Kolkata Knight Riders. If brought in, he can play an anchor as well as an explosive innings.