IPL star Priyansh Arya turned a Ranji Trophy Sunday in Delhi into a run feast, smashing 199 against Gujarat before falling just one run short of a double century. The left-handed opener's innings, his maiden first-class hundred, powered Delhi to a commanding 381 for 4 at stumps on day one of their second-round match at the Palam B Ground in the Model Sports Complex.
Captain Ayush Badoni was unbeaten on 115 at the close, and the pair's 234-run partnership for the fourth wicket left Gujarat with plenty to think about overnight.
Arya's blitz in red-ball cricket
Delhi chose to bat after winning the toss, and Arya brought his T20 attitude into the longest format. He reached his first first-class century off 126 balls and then went into overdrive, adding his next 99 runs off just 95 deliveries. His innings came off roughly 220 balls and included six sixes along with a string of boundaries, at a strike rate of around 90.
Just when a double hundred looked certain, Gujarat's Manan Hingrajia ended the innings in the 77th over, bowling Arya for 199. It was only Arya's third first-class match, which makes the knock all the more remarkable.
A rare club of 199s
According to Wisden, Arya is the first Indian batter to be dismissed on 199 in first-class cricket since KL Rahul, who fell for that score against England in the Chennai Test of the 2016-17 season. Arya is the 16th Indian to be out on 199 in first-class cricket, a list that includes Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin.
Badoni anchors the innings
While Arya attacked, Badoni played the anchor role perfectly. The Delhi skipper reached a composed century and was unbeaten on 115 at stumps. For Gujarat, pacer Harshal Patel was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, but the attack had few answers once Arya and Badoni settled in.
| Match | Delhi vs Gujarat, Ranji Trophy 2026-27, Round 2 |
| Venue | Palam B Ground, Model Sports Complex, Delhi |
| Date | Sunday, October 18, 2026 (Day 1) |
| Priyansh Arya | 199 (about 220 balls, 6 sixes) |
| Ayush Badoni | 115 not out |
| Partnership | 234 runs for the fourth wicket |
| Stumps score | Delhi 381/4 |
| Wicket that ended Arya's knock | Bowled by Manan Hingrajia, 77th over |
Gill falls cheaply, Rinku shines in a losing cause
It was a mixed day for India's stars elsewhere in the Ranji Trophy. India star Shubman Gill, turning out for Punjab against Chhattisgarh in New Chandigarh, lasted only five balls before left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal bowled him for 1. Punjab recovered through Uday Saharan's unbeaten 106 and Prabhsimran Singh's 62 to finish the day on 269 for 4.
In Uttar Pradesh's match against Goa, Rinku Singh struck his second century in as many games, but UP were bowled out for 202 and Goa reached 43 without loss by stumps. In Mumbai's game, Tushar Deshpande picked up four wickets as Himachal Pradesh were dismissed for 140, and Mumbai closed on 107 for 2. Bengal were all out for 184 against Services, with Abhimanyu Easwaran scoring 56, before Services slipped to 83 for 5.
What Arya's knock means
Arya has already made a name for himself in the IPL with Punjab Kings. He holds the record for the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian, a 39-ball century, and had one of the highest strike rates in IPL 2026 among batters with over 300 runs. The question for many fans was whether his game would translate to red-ball cricket. This innings is a strong answer.
With 330 Ranji runs at an average above 80 since his debut last season, Arya is building a first-class record that selectors will notice, especially with India A assignments and future Test openings in mind.
What happens next
Delhi will look to bat on with Badoni on day two and push for a total that lets them chase an innings victory. Gujarat need early wickets to stay in the contest. Over the coming rounds, all eyes will be on whether Arya can turn this form into consistent big scores.
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