In a Group D clash of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Jharkhand defeated a powerful Karnataka side by two wickets — and chief selector Ajit Agarkar was present to witness the action. The star of the match was all-rounder Anukul Roy, who delivered a remarkable all-round performance to guide Jharkhand to victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Anukul Roy’s brilliance
Chasing 157 runs, Jharkhand collapsed early, losing four wickets inside the powerplay. But Anukul Roy took charge and played one of the best innings of the tournament. He smashed an unbeaten 95 off 58 balls, hitting 9 fours and 5 sixes — a total of 14 boundaries that completely changed the game.

Even as wickets kept falling around him, Anukul held the innings together. Jharkhand were eight down, but his calm aggression ensured the match was finished with two balls to spare. Apart from his 95, the next highest score was Ishan Kishan’s 15. Virat Singh managed just 12, while Robin Minz and Kumar Kushagra also failed to contribute.

Anukul shines with the ball too
Not just with the bat, Anukul Roy impressed with the ball as well. He bowled three overs, conceding only 13 runs and taking two crucial wickets. His all-round excellence earned him the Player of the Match award.

A talent waiting for bigger opportunities
At just 26, Anukul Roy has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. Despite being part of the IPL for five seasons, he has played only 12 matches so far. With a T20 strike rate above 150, 778 runs, 40 wickets, and an impressive economy rate of 7.08, he continues to showcase all-round ability. His sharp fielding and all-round skills often draw comparisons with Ravindra Jadeja.