Axis College INFINITAS Faculty Cricket Tournament 2026
Black Panthers edge White Tigers by 3 wickets – Saurabh Kanaujia named Player of the Match Kanpur, 31 January 2026
A high-energy and closely fought contest unfolded at the Axis College cricket ground as part of the ongoing INFINITAS Faculty Cricket Tournament 2026.
In a 15-over-per-side thriller that began at 11:00 AM, Black Panthers emerged victorious over White Tigers by a narrow margin of 3 wickets.After winning the toss, White Tigers captain Ashish Shukla opted to bat first.
However, Black Panthers’ bowlers struck early and maintained relentless pressure. Key wickets in the powerplay left White Tigers struggling, and despite a fighting 33 off 30 balls by Vishal Kumar Gupta – the top scorer – the side could only manage 81/8 in their allotted overs.
Gaurav Puswani contributed 18 and captain Ashish Shukla added a quick 12, but regular fall of wickets prevented any substantial partnership.Black Panthers’ bowling attack was outstanding.
Saurabh Kanaujia led the way with figures of 3/16 in his 3 overs, while Aditya Dwivedi claimed 3/18. Harikesh Bajpai also chipped in with a wicket. The disciplined effort restricted White Tigers to a modest yet defendable total of 82.Chasing 82, Black Panthers began cautiously.
Saurabh Kanaujia provided a steady start with 18 off 21 balls, followed by useful cameos from Kumar Shanu (16 off 13) and Ankit Patel (14 off 15). Though wickets fell at regular intervals, the side showed composure and smart running.
Ashish Shukla picked up 3 wickets in a spirited fightback for White Tigers, but Black Panthers reached the target in 12.3 overs to seal a well-deserved victory.Saurabh Kanaujia was deservedly awarded Player of the Match for his fine all-round performance (3 wickets + 18 runs).
The match was graced by the presence of Director Prof. Dr. Ashish Malik, Management Director Dr. Ankur Johri, Dr. Shubha Jain, Dr. Vikas Srivastava, Dr. Tanuj Chawla, Dr. Isha Yadav, Arun Dwivedi, and several other respected faculty members, whose enthusiastic support added to the vibrant atmosphere.
Black Panthers captain Mohammad Shariq credited the win to team unity and discipline, while Saurabh Kanaujia dedicated his award to the entire squad.
Ashish Shukla sportingly acknowledged the better team on the day and promised a strong comeback next time.The INFINITAS Tournament continues to be a wonderful platform for fostering camaraderie, fitness, and team spirit among faculty members.Heartiest congratulations to Black Panthers!
