Vijay Hazare Trophy weekend: Samson, Pandya, Padikkal dominate

The Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday delivered a feast of cricketing action, with Sanju Samson , Hardik Pandya , and Devdutt Padikkal producing match-defining performances, while other key domestic stars made headlines.

In Ahmedabad, Samson marked his return in style for Kerala, blasting a 90-ball century while chasing Jharkhand’s 311. Opening the innings, he raced to fifty in just 48 balls before hitting nine fours and three sixes. Partnering with Rohan Kunnummal, Samson guided Kerala to a strong position, needing just 64 runs off 18 overs. The innings has reignited debates over Samson’s ODI credentials, especially with India’s squad for the New Zealand series yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, in Rajkot, Pandya played a stunning innings for Baroda, scoring his maiden List A century, 133 off 92 balls, including a remarkable 34 runs in a single over. Coming in when no teammate had crossed 23, Pandya’s explosive knock lifted Baroda to 293/9, underlining his rich form ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Padikkal continued his incredible run, hitting his fourth century in five Vijay Hazare matches. With 471 runs at an average of 117.75, the Karnataka opener remains on selectors’ radar for upcoming ODI series.

Other notable performances today included Rishabh Pant (67) and Priyansh Arya (72) powering Delhi to an 8-wicket win over Services, and Punjab easily beating Sikkim by 10 wickets, though Shubman Gill missed Punjab’s game due to illness. Shreyas Iyer is set to return on January 6 for Mumbai, adding another star to watch in the tournament.

The weekend action showcased not just individual brilliance but also the depth of Indian domestic cricket, with selectors closely observing these performances ahead of the international season.