On This Day: Punjab won their first, and only, Ranji Trophy title

Ludhiana, March 30, 1993 — Punjab etched an indelible chapter in their cricketing annals here at the Punjab Agricultural University Ground, capturing the Ranji Trophy for the first — and to date only — time in their history. Under the astute captaincy of Gursharan Singh, the hosts subdued Maharashtra by 120 runs to seal the 1992-93 crown, ending decades of patient pursuit.

Electing to bat on a pitch that would gradually deteriorate, Punjab mustered 318 in their first essay. The innings was anchored by Amit Sharma, whose monumental 161 set the early tone and provided the platform his side craved. Maharashtra’s riposte stalled at 212, Bharati Vij slicing through the line-up with a career-defining 6 for 61 that handed Punjab a 106-run advantage.

The second innings became a test of nerve. On a wearing surface offering variable bounce, Punjab scratched their way to 146, the skipper top-scoring with a resolute 44 that steadied anxious dressing-room hearts. Set 253 in the fourth innings, Maharashtra never truly threatened the target. Vij struck again to finish with match figures of 9 for 121, while Arun Bedi’s nagging accuracy complemented him perfectly as the visitors were bundled out for 132 well before tea on the final day.

For Punjab, the triumph was more than silverware. It validated a culture rooted in collective resolve rather than headline-hogging superstars, and it hinted at a pipeline that would soon feed the national team. Thirty-three years on, the title remains their solitary Ranji success; Punjab fell at the final hurdle in 1994-95 against Bombay and again in 2004-05 to Railways, ensuring the memories of March 1993 continue to glow a little brighter with each passing season.