Himachal Pradesh vs Puducherry Prediction – Ranji Trophy 2025/26 | Head to Head, Lineups, Stats & Betting Tips
The Himachal Pradesh vs Puducherry prediction for the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 features an exciting Group C encounter between two developing sides with plenty of domestic talent. Himachal Pradesh, a team known for its consistency in the Ranji format, will be looking to start strong with their experienced batting lineup. Puducherry, on the other hand, will aim to prove their growing competitiveness after some solid performances last season.
The match will be played in Puducherry, a venue that offers a balance between bat and ball. Early morning conditions will assist seamers, but as the day progresses, batters can dominate with patience and strokeplay.
Match Details
| Match | Himachal Pradesh vs Puducherry |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Ranji Trophy 2025/26 – Elite Group C |
| Date | October 15–18, 2025 |
| Time | 9:30 AM IST |
| Venue | Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground, Puducherry |
| Weather Forecast | Pleasant conditions with clear skies |
| Pitch Report | Balanced surface, early movement for pacers, batting gets easier on Day 2 & 3 |
Head to Head & Recent Stats
| Teams | Matches Played | Himachal Won | Puducherry Won | Draw/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP vs Puducherry | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
- Himachal Pradesh hold a 100% win record against Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy so far.
- In their last meeting, Himachal won by an innings and 45 runs, showcasing dominance both with bat and ball.
- Puducherry’s challenge remains consistency in their top order and ability to withstand long sessions.
Himachal Pradesh Team Preview
Himachal Pradesh are one of the most balanced sides in this season’s Ranji Trophy. With a strong batting lineup led by Rishi Dhawan, they have the experience and adaptability needed for long-format cricket. Their bowling is spearheaded by Vaibhav Arora and Mayank Dagar, both capable of exploiting home conditions in Dharamsala.
Team Strengths: Experienced top order, disciplined bowling attack, and tactical captaincy from Rishi Dhawan.
Key Players for Himachal Pradesh
- Prashant Chopra: Reliable opener, consistent run-getter in domestic cricket.
- Rishi Dhawan: Captain, all-rounder, and leader in pressure situations.
- Vaibhav Arora: New-ball specialist with swing and control.
- Mayank Dagar: Effective spinner in longer formats.
- Nikhil Gangta: Middle-order stabilizer and handy contributor with the bat.
Puducherry Team Preview
Puducherry have shown steady improvement since joining the Ranji circuit. Led by Paras Dogra, the side features experienced names along with young talent. The batting lineup relies on Fabid Ahmed and K.B. Arun Karthik to anchor innings, while Sagar Udeshi and Ashith Rajiv handle the bowling responsibilities.
While they lack the depth of stronger teams, Puducherry’s ability to adapt on slow tracks and build partnerships could make them competitive.
Key Players for Puducherry
- Paras Dogra: Veteran batter with vast Ranji experience.
- K.B. Arun Karthik: Reliable top-order run-getter.
- Fabid Ahmed: All-rounder capable of making impact with bat and ball.
- Sagar Udeshi: Experienced left-arm spinner, vital in middle sessions.
- Ashith Rajiv: Consistent new-ball bowler with early breakthrough ability.
Predicted Playing XIs
Himachal Pradesh Predicted XI
- Prashant Chopra
- Ankit Kalsi
- Nikhil Gangta
- Rishi Dhawan (C)
- Akash Vashisht
- Pankaj Jaiswal
- Mayank Dagar
- Vaibhav Arora
- Kanwar Abhinay Singh
- Ayush Jamwal (wk)
- Sidharth Sharma
Puducherry Predicted XI
- K.B. Arun Karthik
- Fabid Ahmed
- Paras Dogra (C)
- Poiyamozhi Rajesh
- Pavan Deshpande
- Jackson Singh
- Ashith Rajiv
- Sagar Udeshi
- Vignesh Kumar
- Rohit Damodaran
- P Thamaraikannan
Match Prediction
Himachal Pradesh enter this fixture as clear favorites thanks to their superior form and home advantage. Puducherry’s bowling may struggle on a surface that offers true bounce and pace. However, if their senior players like Paras Dogra and Arun Karthik can build long partnerships, they can make a match of it.
Prediction: Himachal Pradesh to win
Expected Margin: By an innings or 6 wickets
Betting Tips & Odds
- Match Winner Prediction: Himachal Pradesh
- Top Batter (HP): Prashant Chopra
- Top Batter (Pud): Paras Dogra
- Top Bowler (HP): Vaibhav Arora
- Top Bowler (Pud): Sagar Udeshi
- First Innings Runs (HP): 350+ expected
- Toss Tip: Win toss and bat first – early advantage for seamers but good batting pitch later.
Conclusion
The Himachal Pradesh vs Puducherry Ranji Trophy 2025/26 match should offer an engaging contest between an experienced home side and a hungry underdog. Himachal’s balance, depth, and local conditions make them heavy favorites. Puducherry will need an exceptional performance from their senior batters to stay competitive.
Expect Himachal to take control early and continue their strong record in the Ranji Trophy 2025 season.
