Rangpur Riders, who once soared at the top of the BPL 2025, are now facing a dramatic downfall, having lost four consecutive matches. Today, they were handed a crushing 46-run defeat by Khulna Tigers at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, with Mohammad Naeem’s blazing century playing a pivotal role.
Naeem’s unbeaten 111 off 62 balls, including eight sixes and four fours, led Khulna to a total of 220 runs. His impressive knock came after an 88-run partnership with William Bossit (36 off 21) and a 70-run partnership with Mahidul Islam (29 off 15). Despite losing two wickets early, Naeem’s explosive performance helped Khulna recover and post a commanding total.
Naeem now leads the highest run-scorer tally in the tournament, surpassing Tanjid Hasan with 444 runs. His quick-fire innings today, with a strike rate of 179.03, made up for his earlier slower knocks that contributed to Khulna’s losses.
In the first 10 overs, Khulna managed 74 runs for two wickets, but the next 10 overs saw a rapid surge to 146 runs, with Naeem dominating with powerful hits. His 18th-over assault, which included a six, two fours, and a series of no-balls and wides, left Rangpur’s bowlers reeling.
On the bowling side, Rangpur struggled, with Naheed Rana, despite a maximum pace of 148 km/h, failing to make any significant impact. His wicketless spell of 4 overs for 38 runs reflected Rangpur’s lack of control. Adding to their misery was their poor fielding, which included dropped catches and misfields, much to the visible frustration of captain Nurul Hasan.
Despite a valiant 74 from Soumya Sarkar, Rangpur’s chase of 220 was never on track. Their total of 174 for 9 fell short, and the team’s inconsistency throughout the match raises questions about their ability to bounce back.
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With the loss, Rangpur has dropped from the top spot to second, and their path to the final now looks uncertain. If Chittagong Kings win their next two matches, Rangpur could fall to third, making their playoff chances harder. Khulna, on the other hand, has revived their playoff hopes, but they must secure a win in their final match against Dhaka Capitals on February 1.
For Rangpur, today’s loss could prove costly, and they will need to quickly regroup if they are to remain contenders for the title.
