The victory carried added significance as Adish Minhas repeated his earlier success at the under-14 level, becoming one of the rare captains to guide Mandi to two HPCA state titles in different age categories.
Mandi’s road to the championship was far from easy. The team battled through difficult league-stage performances and at one stage appeared close to elimination. However, the players displayed extraordinary resilience, unity and fighting spirit throughout the tournament.
The team’s campaign nearly ended in the quarterfinal against Bilaspur when the side found itself under immense pressure. It was then that captain Minhas produced a magnificent innings of 145 runs to rescue his team and power them into the semifinals.
The semifinal against Kullu proved equally dramatic. Holding their nerves in a tense contest, Mandi secured a thrilling two-run victory to book their place in the final.
Facing Shimla in the title clash, Mandi won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Arnav Thakur and Yash Verma laid a strong foundation with an impressive opening partnership that immediately put pressure on the opposition.
Thakur played a brilliant knock of 73 before being caught, while Yash Verma anchored the innings with a composed 65-run effort. The middle order maintained the momentum as Vrishank Sharma contributed 39 runs and Rajat Thakur added a valuable 37. Mandi were eventually bowled out for a commanding total of 338 runs.
For Shimla, Neerav emerged as the standout bowler with three wickets in a marathon 25-over spell. Shreyas Mehta and Aarav Sharma chipped in with two wickets each.
Chasing the target, Shimla began positively with openers Neerav and Arnav Sharma attacking confidently. Arnav Sharma scored 26 before being stumped, while Neerav kept Shimla in contention with an innings of 82.
Sambhav Sharma also impressed with an important 61-run contribution, raising hopes of a comeback.
However, Mandi’s bowlers responded strongly at crucial moments. Yash Verma delivered a match-winning spell, claiming four wickets in 12 overs. He received support from Daksh Singh, Vrishank Sharma and Arnav Mintu, who picked up two wickets each. Shimla were eventually bowled out for 269.
With a first-innings lead, Mandi entered the second innings full of confidence and reached 86 for the loss of one wicket. Shimla eventually declared the innings, leaving Mandi with a decisive 155-run advantage and confirming them as the new HPCA Under-16 state champions.
The title was celebrated as a triumph of belief, leadership and perseverance. Much of the credit also went to coach Manish Gupta, who had earlier guided the same core group of players to the under-14 state title. Under his mentorship, the team once again established its dominance on the state stage.
Ajay Rana, president of the Mandi Cricket Association, congratulated the players and coaching staff for their dedication and hard work, saying the team had made the entire district proud.
Mandi’s unforgettable triumph will now be remembered as an inspiring story of courage and determination — led by a captain who once again guided his team to the summit of Himachal cricket.
The Baisakhi Sale Plan offers an excellent value of 2 years of subscription + 6 months complimentary.