Top-up Patidar consolidates MP's lead; TN 18 for 5

Group A

Nagaland have a mountain to climb v Vidarbha after Mokhade 183.

Baroda solid after Senapati, Dhuper lift Odisha to 271

TN collapse to 18/5 after Kishan 171 propels Jharkhand to 419

Bharat 142, Rasheed 136 power Andhra to 470 v Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka and Saurashtra scrap hard for first-innings honours

Double tons from Tejrana, Lalit Yadav puts Goa in command v Chandigarh

Patidar hits ton, V Iyer nears one as MP take control against Punjab

On a rain-interrupted day, Maharashtra hit back against Kerala

Group C

Sudip 98 Sumanta 82* gives Bengal the lead against Uttarakhand

Services take control against Tripura after Nakul 96, Pulkit Narag 69.

Aarya & Abhishek lead strong Gujarat response after Assam 310

Parth Vats century lifts Haryana from 62/7 as they lead by 237 v Railways

Dogra's stodgy 110* keeps J&K fighting v Mumbai

Sangwan, Doseja hit double-tons as Delhi flatten Hyderabad

All-round Mayank Dagar helps Himachal dominate v Puducherry

Deepak Hooda ton keeps Rajasthan in hunt for lead v Chhattisgarh

And the runs continue to flow for newly-appointed Madhya Pradesh captain Rajat Patidar, who RCB fans call #RaPa.

He came into the season on the back of runs in the Duleep Trophy, where he led Central Zone to a title win, and the Irani Cup - where he struck a fluent 66.

At Emerald High in Indore, he walked out to bat with MP in a some trouble. In response to Punjab's 232, the hosts were wobbly at 155 for 4. Since then, Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer have put on a century stand to open up a lead which MP will hope is big enough for them to press for a bonus-point win.

Along the way, Patidar has raised his 16th first-class century.He has already stuck three centuries and two half-centuries, in eight innings so far this season. Venky Iyer is unbeaten on 71.

Saurashtra were cruising at 140 without loss, in response to Karnataka's 372 when Harvik Desai was trapped lbw by Mohsin Khan. Since then, they've lost three more wickets to Shreyas Gopal, the leg spinner.

Chirag Jani was bowled for 90, Jay Gohil (who came in as a concussion sub for Tarang Gohel) spooned a return catch, while Ansh Gosai was caught by Smaran for 19. Saurashtra are now 171/4, still trading by 201 as Arpit Vasavada & Prerak Mankad look to rebuild.

What they'd give to have someone like Cheteshwar Pujara out in the middle for them.

After posting 419, achieved largely due to Ishan Kishan's 171, Jharkhand's new ball pair have left TN reeling at 18 for 5 at tea on Day 2 in Coimbatore.

Sahil Raj, who contributed 77 during a 214-run stand with Kishan, has nipped out two wickets while fellow seamer Jatin Pandey has picked up three. The list of those gone: N Jagadeesan, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, B Indrajith, Andre Siddarth and B Sachin.

At the crease are Shahrukh Khan and RS Ambrish, the India Under-19 seam-bowling allrounder. But they've called stumps early because of rain.

Rings a bell? Yes?

No?....how about now?

So, he has picked up four wickets in the second innings as Railways have storming back into the match after conceding a 47-run lead to Haryana in Surat.

We're less than five sessions in, but 27 wickets have already fallen. Haryana have slumped to 93 for 8, with an overall lead of just 140. At this rate, there's every chance we could have the first outright result of the Elite Division tonight or first up tomorrow.

It's a fascinating story of someone who came to Mumbai from Ranchi, with a dream of playing cricket. He didn't know how to realise it - and was guided along the way by a local Mumbai coach Prashanth Shetty, a guiding light for so many young cricketers coming through.

He earned a small income waiting tables, making sushis at a Japanese restaurant, paid off a loan he owed his friend, who in-turn had borrowed money for the two to survive in the city. This is stuff dreams are made of. And on Ranji debut, he has a maiden wicket. Of Qamran Iqbal, that leaves J&K in trouble at 32 for 3 after Mumbai post 386.

You can read about his fascinating journey here.

After skittling Punjab for 232, MP were in a hint of trouble at 98 for 3. But new skipper Rajat Patidar and former captain Shubman Sharma have steered them out of choppy waters. MP are currently 145/3, still trailing by 87 runs. Naman Dhir, the hard-hitting batting allrounder who also bowls seam-up, has picked up two of the three wickets to fall so far.

The Ranji Trophy is ripe with plenty of human stories. Of hard work, sacrifices, heartbreaks, setbacks and comebacks. DT Chandrasekhar's is one such.

Having last played in 2015-16, he had to go back to first-division cricket in Chennai and prove himself all over again, season after season. After picking nearly 450 wickets, including a perfect 10 for Sea Hawks CC against Globe Trotters, and being a prolific performer in the TNPL, he's back in the Ranji setup and playing against Jharkhand.

He's had to toil away in Coimbatore, his figures currently read 31-4-103-2. Both his wickets are of quality batters - Kumar Suraj & Kumar Kushagra. Jharkhand have recovered from 157 for 6 and are currently 387 for 8.

Read his full story here. It's quite fascinating.

Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur has struck in the very first over after they posted 386. Off the third ball of the innings, he has Shubham Khajuria caught in the cordon for a two-ball duck. In the next over, Tushar Deshpande sends back Musaif Ajaz. J&K's hopes pinned on Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra. They're currently 31/2, trailing by 355.

Strange session for the visitors in Rajkot. From 324 for 5, they lost four wickets for one run. Then the last-wicket pair of Shikhar Shetty, the debutant spinner, and left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty added 47 to haul them to 372, before Shikhar was out to a top-edged sweep for 41.

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has fallen for 171 to India U-19 seam-bowling allrounder RS Ambrish in Coimbatore. But not before he's rescued Jharkhand from 157 for 6; the seventh-wicket stand between Kishan and Sahil Raj was worth 214. They're currently 371 for 7 with TN looking to nip out the last three wickets cheaply.

In Srinagar, Shams Mulani has missed an opportunity to bring up his second first-class century, but has hauled Mumbai to a commanding position against Jammu & Kashmir.

His 159-run partnership with Siddesh Lad (116) helped get past 300. His subsequent partnership with Akash Anand has helped Mumbai finish on 386. Mulani hit nine fours and a six in his 91 before falling lbw to seamer Yudhvir Singh, who finishes with figures of 5 for 96.

We're less than four sessions in, but 20 wickets have already tumbled at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat, where Haryana have bundled out Railways for 128, thereby taking a 43-run lead. Seamer Sumit Kumar with a five-for.

Elsewhere in Trivandrum, rain has delayed the start of play with Maharashtra looking to build from their overnight 179 for 7 against Kerala.

More frustration for Tamil Nadu with the second new ball on the second morning.

Resuming on 123 overnight, Ishan Kishan has seen off the tricky early-morning period to bring up his 150. He curbed some of his attacking flair yesterday, but has already hit three sixes this morning.

Kishan's eight-wicket stand with Sahil Raj is nearing 200. Jharkhand are 341/6.

Writer's curse, eh?

Karnataka have lost three quick wickets in no time, slipping to 324 for 8. Two of those off consecutive deliveries to Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, who picked up four wickets yesterday.

He first had Smaran caught at short leg to a decision that seemed contentious, with replays suggesting it lobbed off the pad. Smaran didn't hide his displeasure at the decision, eventually having to be dragged off the field for 77.

Then M Venkatesh, the seamer, was out first ball and Shreyas Gopal, who played superbly for 56, was prised out by Jaydev Unadkat.

It's all happening on the second morning in Rajkot.

In Rajkot, Karnataka have continued to build and set themselves a strong platform from where they can aim to bat just once in this game against Saurashtra.

After half-centuries from Devdutt Padikkal and Karun Nair during a 146-run partnership for the third-wicket, Karnataka lost both set batters and KL Shrijith in quick succession, slipping to 214 for 5.

Since then, R Smaran and Shreyas Gopal have put on a century stand as Karnataka move to 315 for 5.

Smaran is tall, nearly six feet. The penchant to clear the ropes comes from having long levers that he uses to his advantage. But that is only one aspect of a game that he says is very much 'work in progress.'

In his short career already, he's shown the ability to grind his way through. Smaran is strong square of the wicket, a by-product of his ability to pick lengths and play well off the back foot. He also prides himself on being an excellent player of spin, something a lot of former Karnataka players and talent scouts have vouched for.

I had the opportunity to sit down with him earlier this here. You can read the full interview here.

After being pulled up for seemingly not prioritising domestic cricket last year, Ishan Kishan seems to have put the past behind him. He's now focused on trying to maximise every opportunity he gets. He spoke to reporters after the day's play in Coimbatore yesterday, after finishing 123 not out.

Group A

Aman Mokhade's maiden first-class ton powers Vidarbha v Nagaland

Senapati, Dhuper fifties lift Odisha after they lose 4/0 vs Baroda

Ishan Kishan steadies Jharkhand after Gurjapneet strikes for TN

KS Bharat & Shaikh Rasheed in mammoth stand as Andhra flatten UP.

Group B

Padikkal, Karun & Samarth give Karnataka the honours v Saurashtra

Tejrana, Lalit help Goa run Chandigarh ragged

Saransh Jain's six-for gives MP the advantage against Punjab

Gaikwad 91 revives Maharashtra after Kerala seamers run amok

Group C

Jaiswal, Shami skittle Uttarakhand; Easwaran bags golden duck

Swapnil Singh strikes on Tripura debut to stifle Services

Saikia, Parag among the runs as Assam defy Gujarat

Haryana take honours against Railways on 16-wicket day

Group D

Siddesh Lad 116, Shams Mulani 79 powers Mumbai v J&K

Sangwan 91*, Doseja 97* put Delhi on top v Hyderabad

Mayank Dagar rescues Himachal after top-order collapse v Puducherry

Mandal hits ton puts Chhattisgarh ahead v Rajasthan

He picks up three wickets in an over, his 15th of the day, as Uttarakhand have been bundled out for 213 at Eden Gardens. Shami finishes with figures of 14.5-4-37-3. Bengal openers will have a tricky little passage to see out the day.

In Coimbatore, Ishan Kishan has led the way with a captain's knock for Jharkhand, lifting them from a precarious 133 for 5 against Tamil Nadu. Kishan got there off 142 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes. It's been an afternoon of toil for the hosts, who've been unable to strike with the kind of regularity they did in the morning session with left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh picking up three wickets.

Kishan has had a decent build-up to the season. He had a county stint earlier in the year, and was in line to be picked in India's Test squad for the Oval Test after Rishabh Pant fractured his foot, but had to miss out after suffering an e-bike accident. His place eventually was taken by N Jagadeesan, part of the opposition camp in this match.

Kishan then featured in the Irani Cup earlier this month, where he managed scores of 1 and 35 for Rest of India.

In a relatively easier game first-up against Nagaland, who've earned a promotion to Elite Division, batter Aman Mokhade has hit his maiden first-class century in his ninth match to take them to 219 for 3 before rain stops play in Bengaluru. Local boy R Samarth, who is playing for Vidarbha this season, managed just 3.

Elsewhere in Ahmedabad, Assam are 195 for 4 against Gujarat. Riyan Parag got off to a start, but his innings was cut short on 40.

He walked in to bat in the second over, and soon saw Maharashtra slip to 5 for 4 and 18 for 5. While the wicket wasn't a green top by any means, fast bowlers were still able to get some zip and movement off the surface. Gaikwad, batting at No. 4 and wanting to carve a niche in the middle order, rescued the innings with a a crucial 122-run stand for the fifth-wicket with Jalaj Saxena. Gaikwad is currently unbeaten on 83, with Maharashtra at a far more comfortable 154 for 6.

He last played a Test more than 18 months ago — and hasn’t come close to selection since.

In that time, Rishabh Pant has returned to full fitness and reclaimed his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, while Dhruv Jurel has emerged as a capable understudy, now even pushing his case as a specialist batter.

Ishan Kishan, meanwhile, featured for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup, and N Jagadeesan has been around the fringes too — serving as reserve keeper during the England and West Indies Tests in Pant’s absence.

So where does that leave Bharat — the only one among them without even an IPL contract at the moment?

Earlier this year, he went to the UK to play amateur cricket, just to shred the frustration of missing out on the IPL and to keep himself busy. Even that stint only happened to come to him by chance.

With Vidarbha's Apoorv Wankhade unable to obtain a visa because he hasn't played enough first-class cricket to qualify, Ollie Steele, captain of Dulwich (the club Bharat played for), rang up an agency that has a good database of available overseas players. It's during this process that they'd identified Bharat, who had played more than the games needed to secure a visa. That he captained Andhra was an added bonus.

Anyway, back to the present and he's on 86 as Andhra are currently 201/1 v Uttar Pradesh in Kanpur. He's got Sheikh Rasheed for company.

Karun Nair celebrates his return to Karnataka after three years with a typically doughty half-century in Rajkot, along with Devdutt Padikkal. The pair have now put on a century stand for the third wicket after Dharmendrasinh Jadeja struck early for Saurashtra with the wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Nikin Jose.

Padikkal has been fluent, and has carried on from where he left off for India A last month, when he made 150 against Australia A in Lucknow. Straight off a flight from Delhi, he's looked compact for much of his vigil so far. He had a stroke of luck when he was put down at slip, but has looked extremely pleasing otherwise.

Karun has been his usual self, solid against swing and enterprising against spin, bringing out the sweeps and paddles, including one to bring up his half-century, his 38th in first-class cricket. Karnataka 128/2

Incidentally, it was Padikkal who in a way replaced Nair in India's Test squad for the West Indies series. Nair, 33, now has the unenviable task of scoring heavily all over again to remain on the selection radar.

Meanwhile in Srinagar....

It's been a seamers' morning at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. J&K's seamers have justified Paras Dogra's decision to bowl first, with Auqib Nabi and Yudhveer Singh reducing Mumbai to 74/3 before lunch. This included the big wicket of former skipper Ajinkya Rahane for 27. Since then, Sarfaraz Khan and Siddesh Lad have stabilised the innings as they've progressed to 114/3.

Mohammed Shami has expressed his displeasure at not being considered, despite doing whatever he should in terms of his fitness. All said, the fact is he has played in only two first-class games since the WTC final. Now, hoping to put behind the selection snub and wanting to make the most of whatever opportunities he gets, he has started the Ranji season for Bengal.

His first spell reads 7-0-16-0 as Bengal have kept Uttarakhand on a tight leash at Eden Gardens. Uttarakhand 82/3, with two of the wickets taken by Suraj Jaisal.

An erroneous BCCI scorecard has now been fixed, as has ours. We apologise for the confusion.

Atit Sheth, the Baroda seam-bowling allrounder, is on fire in Cuttack. Odisha seemed to have started solidly, with the openers racing away to 49 without loss. And then suddenly, five overs later, they're tottering on 49 for 4, with Sheth picking up two of those wickets.Odisha's hopes of a rescue is now pinned on Subranshu Senapati, the captain, and Rajesh Dhuper

Coming into the Ranji opener, he needed two wickets to get to the milestone, and he has picked up the first two Karnataka wickets to fall. They're 35/2, with Karun Nair & Devdutt Padikkal at the crease.

Over the past 12 months, Saransh Jain is one of just four players with the double of 300-plus runs and 40-plus wickets. In a country with an abundance of left-arm orthodox spinners, Saransh falls in the rare category of an offspin-bowling allrounder. And often, he's been the difference in bowling attacks for whichever team he has played for.

Straight off a Player-of-the-tournament performance in the Duleep Trophy, which Central Zone won, Saransh makes early inroads for Madhya Pradesh at the Emerald High International Grounds in Indore. Punjab are 41/3.

In Rajkot, Mayank Agarwal was given an early life on 1 when Jaydev Unadkat put down a tough return catch off a leading edge, but he manages to add just 1 more to his score as he falls to Dharmendrasinh Jadeja's left-arm spin. Looking to give him the charge and break the shackles, he hits one flat and straight to mid-off.

Karnataka 13/1 as Devdutt Padikkal, who linked up with the squad last evening following the India-West Indies Test in Delhi, comes in at No. 3.

In Trivandrum:

N Basil, with the new ball from the other end, sends back Arshin Kulkarni as he's caught at third slip. Maharashtra are 0/3 and in need of a rescue from two of their most-experienced batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ankit Bawne.

Bawne is the second-highest run-getter among active Ranji players, behind Jammu & Kashmir professional Paras Dogra (9505), with 7244 runs, and the highest run-getter overall in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy with 4010 runs. This is testament to the 32-year-old's durability and consistency. He talks about his journey over the years with Deivarayan Muthu.

New team, new start. But it ends in a four-ball duck. Shaw plays all around a full'ish delivery that seams back in to hit him plumb in front as MD Nidheesh draws first blood for Kerala in Trivandrum. But that isn't the only strike in the first over. Nidheesh also sends back Siddesh Veer as he nicks off to the wicketkeeper. Maharashtra 0/2 after being put in to bat.