Cricket

Anshul Kamboj, the Haryana fast bowler, unleashed a devastating spell on Thursday, claiming all eight wickets to fall in his side's Ranji Trophy match against Kerala at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium.Kamboj, known for his restless energy on the field, channeled his intensity into his bowling, hustling the Kerala batters with his pace and accuracy. The 23-year-old started the day with three wickets and added five more, leaving the Kerala batting order in tatters."Yesterday we bowled a little too outside the off stump. We could have had more wickets, considering the way the ball was moving. So, today I bowled a little straighter so that the batter plays every ball," said Kamboj after the day's play.With Kerala down to its last two wickets, Kamboj now has a glorious chance to enter the history books. Only two players have ever achieved the feat of taking all 10 wickets in a Ranji Trophy innings – Bengal's Premangsu Chatterjee in 1957 and Rajasthan's Pradeep Sunderam in 1985.Kamboj is candid enough to admit that the possibility of a ten-wicket-haul entices him. "Since such a situation [ten wickets] doesn't come very often, I will try to get two more wickets. But if the team is getting the wickets, I am equally happy," said Kamboj with a nervous smile.Kamboj's performance has not only put Haryana in a commanding position in the match but has also brought him into the limelight. The young fast bowler has been making waves in domestic cricket with his impressive pace and wicket-taking ability.If Kamboj can complete the ten-wicket-haul, he will not only etch his name in the history books but also boost his chances of a call-up to the Indian national team. The Indian team is currently in search of a young and talented fast bowler who can provide them with the cutting edge in international cricket.

Medium-pacer Anshul Kamboj's impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy has earned him praise and recognition. The 23-year-old was initially surprised by his selection but seized the opportunity to showcase his skills.In the second-round match against India-B, Kamboj's eight-wicket haul for 69 runs played a pivotal role in securing a significant first-innings lead for India-C. His maiden First Class five-wicket haul came on a batting-friendly wicket, highlighting his ability to adapt and excel in challenging conditions.Kamboj's bowling effort was particularly impressive considering the absence of pace spearhead Sandeep Warrier due to a hamstring injury. He and Vijaykumar Vyshak had to shoulder the extra workload, which they did with aplomb.Despite having played only 13 First Class matches prior to the tournament, Kamboj displayed maturity and composure. He explained his strategy of bowling in front of the batters to increase the chances of lbw and bowled dismissals.Among his wickets, Kamboj was particularly proud of dismissing Sarfaraz Khan, a renowned batsman in the domestic circuit. He credited his success to bowling in the right areas and maintaining consistency.India-B skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran, who carried his bat with an unbeaten 157, expressed satisfaction with his ability to bat for an extended period after recovering from a hamstring injury. He emphasized the importance of spending time in the middle and gaining confidence for future matches.Kamboj's performance has not only earned him the Player-of-the-Match award but also raised hopes for his future prospects. His ability to perform under pressure and adapt to different conditions bodes well for his career.

India C and India B played out a tame draw in their second Duleep Trophy 2024-25 fixture in Anantapur. Haryana seamer Anshul Kamboj's career-best haul of 8 for 69 and Ruturaj Gaikwad's second half-century of the match were the major highlights on the dull fourth day.Resuming on 309 for 7, India B were bowled out for 332 with Kamboj picking up all three wickets to fall. Abhimanyu Easwaran, the India B captain, carried his bat through and was unbeaten on 157 as his side conceded a 193-run lead early on the final day.India C, however, decided to settle for the first-innings honours and were at 128 for 4 after 37 overs when both captains decided to shake hands. Kamboj's performance was among his most impactful yet in a nascent first-class career. Coming into his 15th game, Kamboj hadn't taken more than three wickets in a single innings previously. His eight-for in Anantapur brought him the second-best figures by a fast bowler in Duleep Trophy history, behind Debasis Mohanty (10 for 46).India C lost B Sai Sudharsan early when Mukesh Kumar had him bowled for 11. Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar put on 96 for the second wicket, Patidar hitting 42 to go with his first innings 40, before falling to Musheer Khan's left-arm spin. Rahul Chahar, the legspinner, then had first-innings centurion Ishan Kishan for 1, followed by Gaikwad's scalp in his very next over.The only blip for India C in this game was a leg injury to pacer Sandeep Warrier, which led to him hobbling off after just 1.1 overs. Manav Suthar, who picked up a match-winning seven-for in the first round of matches, went wicketless in this game. His figures read: 33-4-85-0. Musheer, the player of the match last week for his 181, managed just 1 while Sarfaraz Khan, asked to play in this fixture before linking up with the Indian Test squad in Chennai, managed 16.