Punjab’s Mayank Markande says beating Mumbai is a good boost ahead of Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts

Sarfaraz Khan was in a destructive mode when Mayank Markande trapped him leg before. That dismissal not only allowed Punjab to bounce back into the game but also paved the way for its one-run victory against Mumbai.

“Sarfaraz’s wicket was the turning point, but then, it was also a collective effort from all the guys,” Markande told Sportstar. “As we saw, Gurnoor (Brar) put in a very good spell. At the right time, he got us the wicket we needed. That’s why we won as a team…”

With this victory, Punjab finished on top of Group C and will take on Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinals. However, Punjab wants to treat it as another game and not allow pressure to mount up.

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“There is no target. We have been playing good cricket, and the aim is to follow the same process that we have been following in the other matches,” he said, admitting that the win against Mumbai will be a huge motivational boost.

“It’s a psychological thing when you’re playing against Mumbai. Obviously, we’ll get a good boost when we play in the knockouts,” Markande said.

Published on Jan 08, 2026