In a rare off-day for India's senior pacer Mohammed Shami, out-of-favour all-rounder Hanuma Vihari produced a masterful unbeaten 121 to rescue Tripura from a precarious position and keep them in the hunt against Bengal in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C encounter at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala on Monday. Shami, who had been in exceptional form with the ball in his first two matches of the season, failed to pick up a single wicket as Tripura ended day three at 273/7, trailing Bengal's first-innings total of 336 by just 63 runs.

Shami's Wicketless Struggle

For Mohammed Shami—who has been working tirelessly to force his way back into the Indian team after being left out of the squad since the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph—this was an uncharacteristic performance. The 35-year-old had picked up seven wickets across his first two Ranji Trophy matches this season, showcasing the rhythm and accuracy that has made him one of India's most reliable pace bowlers over the past decade.

However, against a resilient Tripura batting lineup led by Vihari, Shami struggled to find his usual penetration. The wicketless spell will be a source of frustration for the Bengal spearhead, who is keen to demonstrate his fitness and form ahead of India's upcoming Test series against South Africa.

Bengal's bowling coach and management will be hoping this was merely an off-day rather than a sign of any lingering fitness concerns, as Shami remains central to their plans for the remainder of the tournament.

Vihari's Determined Rescue Act

When Tripura collapsed to 53/5 in their first innings, with medium-pacer Mohammed Kaif (4/53) wreaking havoc through the top order, the match seemed firmly tilted in Bengal's favor. The hosts appeared destined for a substantial first-innings deficit that would have put them under immense pressure.

Enter Hanuma Vihari.

The 31-year-old former India Test regular—who has been overlooked by national selectors despite consistent domestic performances—batted with tremendous application and grit. His unbeaten 121 off 210 balls featured 17 boundaries and a six, demonstrating both technical solidity and the ability to punish loose deliveries.

Vihari's knock was a masterclass in rebuilding an innings under pressure. Rather than attempting heroics, he focused on occupying the crease, rotating the strike, and capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they presented themselves.

The Partnerships That Changed the Game

Vihari's century was built on two crucial partnerships that transformed Tripura's fortunes:

• 1. The Vijay Shankar Stand (107 Runs for the 7th Wicket)

With half the team back in the pavilion at 53/5, Vihari found an able ally in former India all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who contributed a valuable 34 runs. Their 107-run partnership for the seventh wicket steadied the ship and brought respectability to Tripura's total.

Shankar's role was primarily to provide support while allowing Vihari to dominate the scoring. The partnership consumed valuable overs and frustrated Bengal's bowlers, who had been on top for the first two sessions.

• 2. The Murasingh Partnership (73* Runs for the 8th Wicket)

After Shankar's dismissal, Tripura captain Manisankar Murasingh joined Vihari at the crease and produced an equally important contribution. Murasingh, who had earlier impressed with the ball (3/56), remained unbeaten on 42 as he and Vihari added an unbroken 73 runs for the eighth wicket.

This partnership has given Tripura genuine hope of securing a first-innings lead—or at least avoiding a significant deficit—when play resumes on the final day.

Bengal's First-Innings Performance

Bengal had earlier posted 336 in their first innings, with opener Sudip Gharami scoring a fine 108 and Habib Gandhi contributing 95. Their total appeared commanding given Tripura's modest bowling resources.

For the hosts, captain Manisankar Murasingh (3/56) and Rana Dutta (3/76) were the pick of the bowlers, with medium-pacer Bikramkumar Das chipping in with 2/16 from just six economical overs.

Bengal's innings concluded without any addition to their overnight score of 336/9, with the last wicket falling at the start of day three.

Mohammed Kaif's Destructive Spell

Medium-pacer Mohammed Kaif produced the spell of the match with his devastating figures of 4/53 from 19 overs. His disciplined bowling reduced Tripura to 53/5 and should have set up a comfortable victory for Bengal.

However, Kaif's inability to break the Vihari-Shankar and Vihari-Murasingh partnerships meant that his excellent work was partially undone by the lower-order resistance.

The Final Day Setup

With Tripura at 273/7 and trailing by just 63 runs, the final day promises to be a fascinating contest. Bengal will need to wrap up the Tripura innings quickly to maximize their chances of victory, while Vihari and Murasingh will look to erase the deficit and potentially secure a small lead.

If Tripura can add another 80-100 runs and take a first-innings lead, the match could swing dramatically in their favor, particularly given the psychological blow it would deliver to a Bengal side featuring several established players.

Other Ranji Trophy Action

In Guwahati: Railways were bowled out for 224, with Bhargav Merai top-scoring with 73. In response, Assam reached 99/1 at stumps, with Swarupam Purkayastha unbeaten on 70.

In Ahmedabad: Following on after conceding a 76-run first-innings deficit, Gujarat struggled again, reaching 113/8 in their second innings. Urvil Patel's 44 provided some resistance, but Nikhil Kashyap's 3/55 kept Haryana on top.

In Delhi: Services need 123 more runs to win against Uttarakhand, having reached 71/5 in their chase of 123. Mayank Mishra impressed with 3/33, while Arjun Sharma's 6/41 had earlier demolished Uttarakhand for just 88 in their second innings.