Hyderabad's spin onslaught crushes Tripura in Ranji Trophy opener

When the first ball was delivered at the Hyderabad ground on October 11, the atmosphere was charged with the usual pre‑season optimism. Tripura’s coach, Satrajit Lahiri, had been talking a big game – “no more underdogs”, he declared – and his side seemed ready to prove a point.

That confidence lasted only until the spinners turned the tide. Tanay Thyagarajan ripped through the top order, clean‑bowling Hrituraj Ghosh Roy and then, in the very next over, removing Sridam Paul and Hanuma Vihari for ducks. It was as if the ball had taken on a mind of its own, swinging and turning just enough to make the Tripura batsmen look bewildered.

Tripura’s lone beacon of resistance was opening‑partner Bikram Kumar Das, who, after a shaky start, dug in and coaxed a steady 50 off 102 balls. For a brief spell it looked like the visitors might steady themselves, but the joy was short‑lived. Aniketh Reddy came roaring back, snagging Mandeep Singh lbw and then rattling Sentu Sarkar’s stumps two balls later. The rookie spinner Ruthik Yadav, making his Ranji debut, joined the party by claiming Das’s wicket – the very batsman who had just rescued his side.

In a span of just 28 deliveries Tripura lost six wickets for a paltry four runs, becoming the first team bowled out in this season’s tournament. Aniketh finished with a five‑wicket haul, the standout of the day, while Tanay and Ruthik together accounted for the other four scalps.

Hyderabad, on the other hand, seemed comfortably perched. Their openers, Tanmay Agarwal and Abhirath Reddy, laid a solid 60‑run partnership, giving the spinners a cushion to work from. Off‑spinner Sandip Sarkar also got his share of wickets, dismissing Rahul Singh and Pragnay in quick succession, and edging Himateja to the keeper.

The final tally read 124 all‑out for Tripura, a score that will likely haunt them for a while. Hyderabad’s strategic blend of two quick pacers and a trio of turners proved a masterstroke – nine of the ten wickets fell to spin, underscoring how effective the pitch was for those who could make the ball bite.

As the sun set on Day 1, the verdict was clear: Hyderabad’s spin department had turned the match into a showcase of guile, while Tripura were left to regroup and figure out how to cope with the turn next time around.