At the majestic I.S. Bindra Cricket Stadium in Punjab, Chandigarh, history came alive as Minerva Cricket Club rose once again to the throne of Indian club cricket. On September 29, 2025, Minerva defeated Railways by 24 runs in the grand final of the 30th J.P. Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament, a victory that rekindled memories of their glorious past and announced their resurgence in style.
This was not just a win. It was destiny fulfilled. Exactly twenty years ago, in 2005, Minerva made their debut in this prestigious competition and stunned the cricketing fraternity by lifting the title in their very first season. Today, in their third appearance in the final, they reclaimed the crown to become two-time champions, cementing themselves as one of the giants of Indian club cricket. The journey from pioneers to legends has come full circle.
Minerva, batting first, unleashed a masterclass in batting. Opening the show was wicketkeeper-batter Karteek Sharma, who blazed away to 57 runs in just 35 deliveries. His innings, glittering with eight cracking boundaries and three towering sixes, came at a strike rate of 162.86 and gave Minerva the perfect launchpad in the high-stakes final. His fearless aggression set the tone. At the other end, Manpreet Singh contributed 11 from 10 balls before falling, but by then Minerva had built momentum.
It was then that the captain, Himmat Singh, stood tall and played the innings that defined the match. He was a warrior at the crease, showing both calm authority and commanding aggression. His knock of 119 runs from 113 deliveries was a captain’s epic, laced with eight boundaries and four soaring sixes. It was an innings that steadied Minerva when needed and accelerated when the moment demanded. Beside him, Abhay Choudhary gave a sterling performance with 72 runs off 79 balls, an effort that included seven stylish fours and one huge six. Their partnership stitched the backbone of the Minerva innings, turning potential into dominance.
Contributions continued across the order. Gurmehar Mca added a steady 18 from 30 balls, holding one end during a tricky passage. Tejpreet Cricketer’s quickfire 17 from 12 balls injected momentum in the closing overs, while Armaan Wadhwa struck 5 runs from just 2 deliveries, smashing a boundary at a dazzling strike rate of 250 to provide a final flourish. Minerva eventually posted a towering total of 313 all out in 50 overs, a score worthy of a grand final.
The chase was always going to be demanding, and Railways came out swinging, but Minerva’s bowlers were relentless. The destroyer-in-chief was Sumit Beniwal, who produced a spell for the ages. Bowling with venom, he claimed five wickets in just seven overs, conceding 31 runs with a maiden over to his name. Each wicket was a dagger into the heart of Railways’ resistance, and his fiery spell dismantled the opposition’s backbone. Alongside him, Armaan Wadhwa made telling contributions with the ball, taking two crucial wickets in his 5.4 overs. Ramesh Kumar was unplayable, delivering 10 overs of sheer discipline for just 24 runs and a wicket, throttling Railways in the middle overs. Tejpreet also chipped in with one wicket for 50 runs in his 6 overs, while captain Himmat Singh once again led by example, bowling 8 overs for 50 runs and claiming an important wicket at a decisive stage. The supporting cast of Jaggi, Abhay Choudhary, Ishmeet Siingh Sandhu, and Manpreet Singh kept the pressure intact with probing spells, ensuring that Railways never had the freedom to mount a match-winning surge.
Despite flashes of resistance, Railways found themselves cornered under Minerva’s relentless assault. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and the pressure kept mounting. Finally, after 47.4 overs of drama, Railways were bundled out for 289, falling 24 runs short of the target. The roar that erupted from Minerva’s players and fans was one of triumph, relief, and sheer joy.
This victory was more than just another trophy. It was the revival of a legacy. From their debut title in 2005 to their second crown in 2025, Minerva Cricket Club have proven that they are not merely participants in Indian cricket, but torchbearers of excellence. In their third final, they showed composure, character, and champion spirit, rising above the pressure to etch their name once more into the annals of history.
The 30th J.P. Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament 2025 will forever be remembered as the tournament where Minerva reaffirmed their identity as giants of the domestic cricketing landscape. From Karteek’s fireworks to Himmat’s captain’s epic, from Abhay’s solidity to Sumit’s five-wicket masterclass, this was a team performance for the ages.
Two-time champions, twenty years apart, Minerva’s name will echo as a story of perseverance, passion, and glory. Today, they are not just winners of a trophy – they are guardians of tradition, a symbol of resilience, and above all, true champions.