SRINAGAR: Host NIT Srinagar continued their unbeaten run and stormed into the semi-finals of the All India Inter-NIT Faculty and Staff Cricket Tournament 2026 with a commanding seven-wicket victory over NIT Kurukshetra on the third day of the tournament on Monday.
The day witnessed intense cricketing action as the tournament entered the knockout stage, with NIT Srinagar, NIT Jalandhar and NIT Hamirpur securing impressive quarter-final wins to book their places in the semi-finals. The final round of league matches also produced several thrilling encounters across venues.
Playing at the NIT Srinagar Ground, NIT Kurukshetra opted to bat first and managed 123/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Prof Vikas Kumar top-scored with 22 runs, but a disciplined bowling performance from the hosts prevented the visitors from building momentum.
Dr Shakeel Waseem led NIT Srinagar’s bowling attack with figures of 2/25, while Dr Mohsin, Dr Majid Hussain, Mudasir Qadir and Shahid Hamid picked up one wicket each.
In response, NIT Srinagar comfortably chased down the target, reaching 127/3 in just 14 overs. Dr Ved Prakash remained unbeaten on 50, while Aaqib Sheikh contributed a quick 38. Dr Pankaj Kumar added 16 off nine deliveries, and Shahid Hamid finished unbeaten on 11 from four balls to complete the victory.
Dr Ved Prakash was named Player of the Match for his match-winning half-century. The award was presented by NIT Srinagar Registrar Prof Atikur Rehman.
In another quarter-final clash at Ganderbal Physical College, NIT Jalandhar defeated NIT Rourkela by eight runs in a closely contested match.
Batting first, Jalandhar scored 157/6, with Ravinder making 38 and Nitin Sharma contributing 32. Rourkela’s Subrat S produced a brilliant knock of 82 off 67 balls, but his side fell short at 149/6. Manjeet Singh picked up two wickets for Jalandhar, while Subrat S was adjudged Player of the Match.
NIT Hamirpur also booked a semi-final berth after defeating NIT Calicut by 32 runs. After being bowled out for 107, Hamirpur produced a remarkable bowling performance to dismiss Calicut for 75. Manish starred with an all-round show, scoring 34 runs before taking five wickets for 21 runs.
Earlier, the league stage concluded with several impressive performances. MNIT Jaipur registered the biggest victory of the day, defeating NIT Delhi Faculty and Staff by 99 runs. Jaipur posted a massive 228/8, powered by Sundeep Kumar’s 58 and Roop Narayan Sharma’s explosive 44 off 18 balls, before restricting Delhi to 129.
MANIT Bhopal defeated NIT Raipur by 24 runs, with Hasthi Venkateswarlu delivering an all-round performance by scoring 35 runs and taking three wickets.
NIT Kurukshetra registered a 17-run league win over NIT Andhra Pradesh, where Rahul Sharma created history by taking the tournament’s first hat-trick and finishing with figures of 3/13.
NIT Agartala beat NIT Manipur by five wickets, while NIT Rourkela defeated MNNIT Allahabad by five wickets, riding on Tanmaya Kumar Sahoo’s outstanding six-wicket haul.
VNIT Nagpur edged past NIT Nagaland by 11 runs, SVNIT Surat defeated NIT Sikkim by 23 runs, and NITK Surathkal registered a dominant 10-wicket victory over NIT Goa after chasing 107 without losing a wicket.
The tournament will now move into its semi-final stage, with the remaining teams battling for a place in the final.
