In a landmark achievement for the state's cricketing future, the Chhattisgarh Under-16 boys' team has secured a historic qualification to the knockout phase of the BCCI-organised Men's U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy for the very first time. Their passage was sealed following a determined, hard-fought draw against Rajasthan in their final Elite Group B league match, coupled with consistent performances throughout the league stage.
A Gritty Draw Seals Historic Progression
The crucial encounter took place in Gwalior from December 23 to 25, 2024, as part of the tournament that commenced on December 7. Despite conceding the first-innings lead to Rajasthan and facing immense scoreboard pressure, Chhattisgarh's resilience on the final day ensured the draw they needed. This result proved sufficient for them to finish second in Elite Group B, behind Punjab, and book their maiden ticket to the prestigious tournament's knockout rounds.
Match Highlights: Batting Resilience on Display
After Rajasthan won the toss and elected to field, Chhattisgarh posted a total of 192 runs in their first innings. The innings was anchored by Chandransh Yadav's solid 58, with significant support from Tushya Prajapati (42), Aditya Byadwal (26), Prateek Gandharv (26), Ujjawal Markam (23), and an unbeaten 19 from Arshveer Singh Bhatia.
In reply, Rajasthan managed to take a slender lead by scoring 211 runs, largely due to contributions from Anurag Lakhan (67), Rohan Choudhary (47), and Yash Sharma (41). The Chhattisgarh bowling attack, led by Yatharth Singh Chouhan's three wickets and two wickets each from Arham Nahar and Tushya Prajapati, kept the opposition in check.
Facing deficit, Chhattisgarh's second innings was a testament to their fighting spirit. They put up a strong total of 282 runs in 103.4 overs, setting up a match situation where Rajasthan had no realistic chance of a win, thereby securing the vital draw.
Consistent Performers Pave the Way
The historic qualification was built on consistent displays across the league phase. Top-order batter Tushya Prajapati emerged as a key figure, aggregating 193 runs in 6 innings across 4 matches, including a highest score of 103. Another pillar of the batting lineup, Aditya Byadwal, compiled 181 runs in 6 innings with a best of 95. Their performances underscore the emerging strength at the top of the order for Chhattisgarh as they head into the knockout challenge.
This unprecedented success marks a significant milestone, highlighting the steady development and growing prowess of Chhattisgarh's age-group cricket structure on the national stage.
