Air India wins all-India Public Sector title.

Rohit Prakash, Dheeraj Jadhav excel with the bat, while Yuzvendra Chahal’s 5-wicket haul helps Air India beat Food Corporation of India.

Ranji Trophy cricketers stole the show with Uttar Pradesh’s Rohit Prakash and Dheeraj Jadhav combined well before Yuzvendra Chahal five-wicket haul steered Air India to title win in the All-India Public Sector Twenty20 cricket tournament here on Saturday.

Rohit Prakash and home player Dheeraj Jadhav, who now plays for Assam, put on first wicket stand of 114 runs in 74 ball to lay the foundation of Air India in the final against the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at the Poona Club ground here.

Prakash scored 40-ball 69 hitting11 fours and 2 sixes, while Dheeraj Jadhav chipped in with 40 off 35 balls with 7 fours. Prashant Naik’s unbeaten 28 off just 13 balls and 3 sixes also helped Air India post a formidable total of 194 for six in their allotted 20 overs.

The FCI could rely only on Punjab Ranji player Mayank Siddana, who scored 40-ball 66 with 11 fours and a six, but except for his third wicket partnership with Umang Sharma, which was worth 62 runs and it came off 42 balls.

Air India struck regular blows with the attach led by Haryana Ranji player Yuzvendra Chahal, who snapped five wickets giving away mere 14 runs. Chahal, who has played for Mumbai Indians in the past and is readying to represent Royal Challengers Bangalore in the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) competition, gave a good display of his talent.

The FCI President Shishir Nagpal, RP Singh, FCI GM (West Zone) and former India Test captain, gave away the prizes.

Brief scores:

Final: Played at the Poona Club - Air India v Food Corporation of India

Air India: 194 for 6 in 20 overs (Rohit Prakash 69 (40b, 11x4, 2x6), Dheeraj Jadhav 40 (35b, 7x4), Prashant Naik 28 not out (13b, 3x6), Dhruv Shory 2-15, Vinay Choudhary 2-35, Divesh Khanna 2-49) beat FCI: 147 all out in 19.5 overs (Mayank Siddana 66 (40b, 11x4, 1x6), Umang Sharma 16 (13b, 2x4), Nitin Saini 23 (24b, 2x4), Yuzvendra Chahal 5-14, Jayant Yadav 2-21).

Result : Air India won by 47 runs.