The 2025/26 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) saw some fabulous batting performances in the opening round across the country. However, the bowlers also shine with the new ball and even in the death phases of the game, which head the first day of the 50-over domestic tournament in this country.

Most of the pitches used for this tournament help the batters to trust the pace and bounce to smash the flurry of boundaries and sixes around the ground. Despite that situation, it becomes a challenge for the bowlers to hold their line and come up with some smart field positions to fox the batters with their variations.

A look at the top 5 bowling performances from Day 1 of VHT 2025/26

1.   Arzan Nagwaswalla (Gujarat)

The left-arm pacer of the Gujarat side, Arzan Nagwaswalla, has a decent record in List-A cricket with the help of 83 wickets in 46 innings at an average of under 24 and a strike rate of just over 26. For a long time, India has needed a left arm in white-ball cricket, especially in the ODIs, and if Arzan can impress the selectors throughout the event, he can make it easy for his national selection.

Against services in Alur, Nagwaswalla finished with four wickets for 34 runs in 8.2 overs at an economy rate of just over four. Two of those wickets include the top three of the Services batting order as he swings the new ball in both ways to create issues for the opposition.

2.   Simarjeet Singh (Delhi)

The former Chennai Super Kings pacer who made his way to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Simarjeet Singh, playing for Delhi, has a struggling record in List A cricket in 24 innings with as many wickets at an average of nearly 40.

See Also: Top 5 batting performances from Day 1 of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

But he had a chance to impress Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant alongside Ishan Sharma 3 national players who were featuring in the clash against Andhra Pradesh in Bengaluru. Simarjeet uses pace and bounce to create issues for the batters and return with a strong figure of 5/54 in his 10 overs, including a maiden over. Delhi completed the chase by 4 wickets in more than 12 overs to spare.

3.   Atit Sheth (Baroda)

Baroda’s pace allrounder, Atit Sheth, was another strong performer with the ball in the opening round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26. In just 65 innings, the right-arm pacer has picked up 84 wickets in List-A cricket at an average of under 26 and an economy rate of under five as he started the new season of the 50-over domestic tournament with an impressive performance.

Sheet picked up four wickets for 56 runs in 8.4 overs to help Baroda bundle out the opposition, Assam, for  just 282 runs. Later, they completed the chase by five wickets with 13 balls to spare. Vishnu Solanki smashed a fine unbeaten knock of 88 runs in 62 deliveries at a strike rate of over 140.

4.   Baba Aparajith (Kerala)

Baba Aparajith is not known for his off-spin bowling in List-A cricket, but he also has 71 wickets in 77 innings at an average of under 29, which underlines his bowling and provides a decent amount of overs to the captain if required.

In the contest against Tripura, he finished with five wickets for just 15 runs in 5.5 overs to bundle out the opposition for 203 runs and complete a 145-run victory. Earlier in the day, he nailed 64 runs in 73 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

5.   Saransh Jain (Madhya Pradesh)

The right-arm batter and a left-arm spin-allrounder of Madhya Pradesh, Saransh Jain, ended with an impressive bowling performance for Madhya Pradesh against Rajasthan in Ahmedabad. He is not far away from getting his name in the Indian test site as an op spinner, but there is a chance of him impressing the slickers even in the white wall formats.

During the clash against Rajasthan, he picked up three wickets for 37 runs in 10 overs at an economic rate of under four to bundle out the Rajasthan side for 188 runs and complete a 99-run victory for Madhya Pradesh. 

Again a five-wicket haul for Saransh Jain. In the semifinals of the Duleep Trophy 2025, the spinner Modhye of Madhya Pradesh picked up 5 wickets in the final match for Central Zone versus South Zone. And in his last 3 matches, including 2 Duleep Trophy games, Saransh produced 3 five-wicket hauls, which is absolutely stunning, and a statement-making effort from the spin-bowling all-rounder. 

During the semi-final against West Zone, the Indore-born not only contributed with his spin bowling abilities but also with his batting techniques. He took 3 wickets in the first innings of the contest, followed by a 5-wicket spell in the second innings—a total of 8 wickets claimed by Saransh Jain in the crucial match of the tournament. Additionally, he played an unbeaten 63-run knock. He started the series of 5-fers through a Ranji Trophy 2025 match between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

In the first innings of the Duleep Trophy 2025 final, Central Zone dominated over South Zone. After the stumps of Day 1, South Zone lost all of their batters for only 149 runs on the scoreboard. Jain took the wickets of Ricky Bhui, Salman Nizar, Andre Siddharth, Ankit Sharma, and Nidheesh M. D. After Day 1 of the final, Central Zone is trailing by 99 runs with all 10 wickets in hand. 

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Who is Saransh Jain?

Saransh Jain is a spin bowling all-rounder from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Who first came under the spotlight in 2014, when he made his Ranji Trophy debut. Then he went for his first overseas tour in Australia, where he experienced a 3-0 series win. His father, Subodh Jain, a former cricketer, has been diagnosed with cancer. Saransh found his motivation from the words of his father, who once told him, "If you just play better, I will get well soon." 

Ranji Trophy 2021-22 was a historic moment for the cricketer, as he helped Madhya Pradesh to win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. In that season, he got 13 wickets and scored a vital half-century in the knockout stages. In the following season, he was named as the best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy for claiming 35 wickets and scoring 360 runs.