A century on my Ranji Trophy debut gives a lot of confidence: Vihaan Malhotra

Nineteen-year-old Punjab opener Vihaan Malhotra scored a century on his First-Class debut against Assam in the Ranji Trophy. The knock featured 11 boundaries and helped Punjab respond with 287 for 5 against Assam's 373 at the New International Cricket Stadium. Malhotra noted that beginning his debut season with a hundred provides immense confidence as he progresses into senior cricket.

Malhotra previously helped India win the Under-19 World Cup and sought advice from Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik regarding the transition to senior cricket. He replaced Prabhsimran Singh in the lineup, sharing a 137-run opening stand with Harnoor Singh as Punjab head coach Amit Uniyal and personal coach Kamal Sandhu praised his technique and preparation.