Opener Madhav Kaushik and Rinku Singh struck unbeaten centuries as former champions Uttar Pradesh reached 287/3 against Bihar at stumps on day one of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A opener at the Rajgir International Cricket Stadium in Bihar on Sunday.
Bihar’s decision initially looked perfect as UP lost opener Abhishek Goswami for 13 in the eighth over, caught by Sakibul Gani off Amod Yadav. Captain and wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal fell to off-spinner Suraj Kashyap for 13, reducing the innings to 59/2. Karan Sharma then became Kashyap’s second victim, trapped leg-before for 13, leaving UP at 85/3 in the 34th over.
For a batter widely known for his finishing ability in white-ball cricket, Rinku’s innings underlined his growing authority in the longer format. As the partnership grew, the home side’s attack struggled to maintain consistency, allowing both centurions to rotate strike and punish errors. He came into the match with a first-class record of 3,757 runs (avg 58.70, 9×100, 23x50s). Bihar also conceded 15 extras, including nine no balls, which eased pressure on UP at key moments.
