The quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Bengaluru turned dramatic when Nitish Rana and Ayush Badoni got into a heated exchange on the field. The verbal confrontation occurred between Rana, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.20 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, and retained Lucknow Super Giants star Badoni, who was retained for INR 4 crore before the auction.
Tension increased during the high-risk match, drawing the attention of players and referees. Both Rana and Badoni are known for their fiery temperament and competitive spirit. Neither player backed down, which added an extra layer of intensity to the match.
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The incident between Rana and Badoni occurred at a crucial phase of the match, with both players involved in a tense confrontation following a delivery from Rana. The exchange, which began as a verbal dispute, quickly escalated as the two cricketers went back and forth.
The referees intervened to calm the situation, but the aggression between the two was palpable.
Rana, known for his fiery nature, has been involved in similar incidents in the past, including a high-profile altercation with Mumbai Indians’ Hrithik Shokeen in IPL 2023.
In that case, Shokeen fired Rana cheaply, and as Rana returned to the dugout, Shokeen exchanged words with him, causing Rana to stop, turn around, and respond angrily.
Rana’s history of altercations on the field is not new, and his fiery behavior was on display once again during the SMAT quarterfinals.
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Delhi advances to semi-final with 19-run win over Uttar Pradesh
Delhi defeated Uttar Pradesh by 19 runs to qualify for the semi-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Delhi posted a competitive total of 193/3 in their 20 overs, with Anuj Rawat top-scoring with an unbeaten 73*. In response, Uttar Pradesh could only manage 174/10 in their allotted 20 overs, falling short by 19 runs. Delhi’s strong performance with bat and ball ensured their progress to the semi-finals.
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