Maharashtra vs Jharkhand: match prediction on 18 October 2026

Jharkhand to win. The head-to-head record and the model's run expectations point that way.

Recent form

Maharashtra won their opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Services, posting 474 runs to 347 in an away victory on 11 October. Before that they drew twice and lost once in five matches, scoring 883 runs while conceding 757. Their last defeat came against Chhattisgarh in January, 160 to 166.

Jharkhand have not played a Ranji Trophy match yet this season. In their last five games they won three, lost two, and scored 1271 runs while conceding 1146. Their heaviest loss was 0 to 371 against Uttarakhand on 6 February, but they also recorded a 561 to 0 victory over Uttar Pradesh in January.

Head-to-head

Jharkhand have won both meetings in 2023. On 23 November they beat Maharashtra 359 to 355 in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match. Three weeks earlier they won 192 to 169 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Both matches were played at Jharkhand's home ground. A Ranji Trophy fixture on 12 January 2024 has no recorded result in the database.

Table positions

Maharashtra sit third with 6 points after one match, having won it. Jharkhand are fourth with 3 points after zero matches. Maharashtra have played more cricket and accumulated more points so.

Model expectations

The model expects Jharkhand to score 292.7 runs and Maharashtra 205.4. Draw probability is listed at 0%, both teams to score at 0%, and 3 or more runs at 0%. These figures suggest a one-sided outcome, though the run totals are averages across many simulated versions of the match, not a prediction of what will happen.

Where the prediction falls apart

A Jharkhand win no longer holds if Maharashtra's batting lineup collapses early, as it has in matches against Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. The model's run expectation for Maharashtra is 87 runs lower than Jharkhand's. A draw would also undermine the prediction, though the model assigns that outcome 0% probability.

The model is 71% confident, based on the head-to-head record and the model's run expectations. If Jharkhand fail to capitalize on their historical advantage, or if Maharashtra's form improves beyond the 4 wins in 5 matches, the conclusion shifts. The table position and points total do not factor into this calculation, as they reflect different numbers of games played.