Rajshahi vs Chattogram – BPL Qualifier 1, Jan 20 2026

The Bangladesh Premier League 2026 heated up on January 20 when the Rajshahi Warriors and Chattogram Royals clashed in Qualifier 1 at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium. It was a ticket straight to the final, so both teams were fired up but cautious. In the end, the Chattogram Royals kept it cool in a tight, low-scoring game, chasing down 134 to win by six wickets and grab their spot in the BPL final.

BPL Playoffs: Stakes Were High

Qualifier 1 is a big deal in the playoffs, and this one showed why. Rajshahi Warriors had been leading the league with some solid play, while the Chattogram Royals came in confident but maybe not quite as strong. The Mirpur pitch, good for bowlers and getting slower as the game went on, meant it was more about smart tactics than big hitting.

Rajshahi Warriors Innings: Started Okay, Never Took Off

The Chattogram Royals won the toss and made Rajshahi Warriors bat first – turned out to be a good call. The Warriors’ innings never really got going, even though Tanzid Hasan played steadily. He scored 41 off 37 balls, holding things together while wickets were falling around him.

Sahibzada Farhan kicked things off fast, but when he got out early, Rajshahi slowed down. The guys in the middle struggled against some tight bowling, especially spin. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim got out one after the other, and it suddenly fell apart, giving Chattogram the upper hand.

The lower order tried to get some runs going, especially Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. He smashed 32 off just 15 balls, hitting some big sixes and pushing Rajshahi past 120 for a bit. But they couldn’t keep partnerships going, and the Warriors ended up all out for 133 – not great, even on a tough pitch.

Chattogram Royals Bowling: Tight and Controlled

The Chattogram Royals bowled well by keeping things tight instead of just trying to blast people out. Mahedi Hasan was on point, finishing with 2 for 20 and putting pressure on with great lines and a few tricks. He broke up some important partnerships, which is why he got the Player of the Match award.

Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam helped out, using the Mirpur pitch to make scoring hard. Aamer Jamal got some late wickets to keep Rajshahi from getting away. Overall, Chattogram’s bowlers knew what they were doing, turning Qualifier 1 into a game where 150 was never likely.

Chattogram Royals Chase: Steady Under Pressure

Chasing 134 in a playoff game can be tough, and the Chattogram Royals felt that early on. Mohammad Naim and Mirza Baig started carefully, focusing on not losing wickets rather than hitting big shots. They built a solid base, even if they weren’t scoring super fast.

Mirza Baig’s 45 off 47 balls was key to the chase. Nothing fancy, but exactly what they needed. Naim’s 30 was a good support, and by the halfway point, Chattogram was in control, even though the score wasn’t flying.

Middle Overs and Rising Tension

As the chase continued, the Rajshahi Warriors tried to fight back with some good bowling from Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, who had a good game with both bat and ball. His two wickets gave them a bit of hope, especially when Asif Ali got out quickly after coming in.

The score they needed started creeping up, and the stadium got tense. Chattogram still had wickets left, but they needed runs, so it was up to their captain, Mahedi Hasan, to bring them home.

Mahedi Hasan: Led From the Front

Mahedi Hasan came through when it mattered. His 19 not out off just 9 balls was perfect under pressure. He picked the right times to attack, hitting two big sixes that turned the game Chattogram’s way.

Besides the runs, Mahedi kept everyone calm in the final overs. He and Aamer Jamal finished the chase with three balls to spare, putting the Chattogram Royals into the BPL final and proving how valuable he is as an all-rounder.

Talking Points

Qualifier 1 was pretty clean, but there were a few debatable moments. Some close calls from the umpires, especially in the middle of Rajshahi’s innings, got some people fired up in the dugout. But they had DRS to make sure things were fair, and nothing really overshadowed the result.

People also talked about Rajshahi’s batting. Some wondered if they were too cautious on a pitch where you could still score early on. They couldn’t rotate the strike enough, especially against Mahedi Hasan’s tight spin.

Achievements

This game added some interesting bits to the BPL 2026 story. The Chattogram Royals getting to the final was a big deal for their campaign, showing their squad is well-rounded and plays smart. Mahedi Hasan’s all-around game was a highlight of the playoffs.

Even though they lost, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain’s performance got him Cricinfo’s MVP award, which shows he’s becoming known as a game-changer. Tanzid Hasan’s consistent play throughout the season has made him a reliable top-order batter.

What It Means for the BPL

Chattogram’s win changed the playoff picture. Now that they’re straight into the final, they can rest and get ready, while the Rajshahi Warriors have to pick themselves up and go through the second qualifier. The result also shows how important it is to be able to adapt in knockout games, where what you did in the league doesn’t always matter.

In the End

The Rajshahi vs Chattogram Qualifier 1 on January 20, 2026, was a classic BPL playoff game that came down to smart play, cool heads, and leadership. When runs were hard to get, Mahedi Hasan’s calmness with both the bat and ball made the difference. As the Bangladesh Premier League gets closer to the end, this game was a reminder that in big pressure situations, staying calm often beats just trying to blast your way through.