Day 2's highlights:
- J&K with the aces v Hyderabad; Auqib Nabi shines again
- Smaran slams career's third double as Karnataka dominate
- Lad, Shardul to the fore as Mumbai run Puducherry ragged
- Abhimanyu, Shahbaz hit fifties as Bengal take control v Assam
Kerala hit back against toppers MP
Having posted 281, Kerala were walking a tightrope with regards to qualification. Nothing less than a win here would've kept them in contention for the knockouts. And they've given themselves a great chance to win by reducing MP to 132 for 6. Saransh Jain, the MP allrounder, has enhanced his reputation lately and has a great chance to prove his batting worth to the selectors now. Intriguing contest.
Puducherry rocked early
Vishal Dikshit from Wankhede: For much of the hour leading into the tea interval, Puducherry had pushed back all their fielders - all nine to the boundary - once Shardul Thakur started hitting out after Sidhhesh Lad's dismissal for 170. Shardul smacked one six over long-off and held his pose, one over the cow corner, another over deep square leg, and all the fielders could only see the ball sail over them as the sun beats down on them. There were a couple of fours too as Shardul put on a rapid fifty stand with Akash Anand. Having brought Wankhede alive with the bat, he continues to soar by striking with the new ball.
In other updates:
- TN have been bowled out for 455 against UP
- Vidarbha snatch three-run lead v Baroda
- Lad 170 but Mumbai keep batting, near 550
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R Smaran continues red-hot form
The 22-year-old left-hander has slammed his second double-century in four innings.
Walking in at 13 for 2 in the eighth over in Hubli, he’s fought through the pressure to put Karnataka in a position from which they can realistically hope to bat just once in this match.
Smaran first laid the platform with a 119-run fourth-wicket stand alongside Karun Nair, and from there he’s taken charge, shepherding the lower order and carrying the innings on his shoulders.
Karnataka 497/7
Here's a full lowdown on who R Smaran is, and how he's come up the ranks.
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J&K build lead
A half-century from Qamran Iqbal has laid a strong foundation in the second innings for J&K after they took a 49-run lead over Hyderabad. They're currently 122 for 3, with Vivrant Sharma and Abdul Samad at the crease. Their overall lead is 167 currently.
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Abhimanyu leads Bengal's strong reply
In Kalyani, the Bengal captain has made a sparkling half-century. Unbeaten on 63, he has already added 120 for the second wicket with Shakir Gandhi, steering Bengal to a strong 129 for 1 in response to Assam’s 200.
It’s a timely innings for Abhimanyu. His previous first-class appearance, for India A against South Africa A, ended in a pair, but that wasn’t a reflection of his overall touch. Just a match earlier, he had guided Bengal through a shaky chase with an unbeaten 71 against Uttarakhand.
Still, by his own standards, he’d admit the runs haven’t flowed with his usual consistency this season. Today, though, might well be the turning point.
For Bengal, the hope he converts this start into a commanding hundred and positions them to bat just once in the match.
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Baroda-Vidarbha in dogfight
There’s a gripping tussle unfolding for first-innings honours in Jamtha.
Bowled out for 169, Group A leaders Vidarbha have stormed back to reduce Baroda to 140 for 8. Seamer Nachiket Bhute and left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade have led the charge with three wickets each.
Baroda’s hopes of erasing the deficit now rest squarely on the shoulders of Vishnu Solanki, who is holding firm on an unbeaten 33.
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Punjab strike back after Arshin show
From 186 for 1, Maharashtra have lost nine wickets for 164. Punjab's pace spearhead Gurnoor Brar finishes with 4 for 115, while the spin duo of Harpreet Brar and Mayank Markande picked up two wickets apiece. Punjab are 8/0 at lunch, trailing by 342.
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Amit Shukla's dream spell
He picked up his first five wickets within 21 balls, without conceding a run. He finishes with unreal figures of 8 for 27 as Haryana have been bundled out for 111 in response to Services' 205. Twenty wickets have fallen inside four sessions. Every chance plenty more will fall through the course of the day.
6 Number of Services bowlers to take an eight-for in an innings
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Kerala's troubles mount
Last year’s runners-up are stuck in a rut.
Drifting towards the bottom of Group B, they desperately needed a statement with the bat against table-toppers Madhya Pradesh to inject life into a faltering campaign before the season breaks for the white-ball leg.
Instead, 281 is all they could muster at the Holkar Stadium, and even that owed much to a defiant 98 from Baba Aparajith and a steady 60 from Abijith Praveen. Without that pair, the scorecard would have made for far grimmer reading.
Arshad Khan, the left-arm seamer who had a brief run with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, did the bulk of the damage, finishing with an incisive 4 for 54.
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Aman Khan strikes in 'away' game at 'home'
Vishal Dikshit from Wankhede: Remember Aman Khan? He played a lot of matches in the lower order for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, sometimes coming on as the Impact Sub. He also bowls medium pace and started his domestic career with Mumbai in 2021.
Last year he made his first-class debut after moving to Puducherry and in a homecoming of sorts at Wankhede against Mumbai, he has Sarfaraz Khan, his team-mate from his T20 debut, edging behind. Sarfaraz is gone for 67 off 113, but Mumbai soon go past 400 as wicketkeeper Akash Anand joins the centurion Lad.
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The Prithvi show
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Some respite for Chandigarh
In Hubli, Chandigarh have managed to pick up their first wicket of the day, thereby breaking a 141-run sixth-wicket stand between R Smaran and Shreyas Gopal.
Shreyas Gopal is trapped lbw by Vishu for 62. Smaran is going strong on 139, having consolidated on a terrific start to the season. He has scores of 77, 10, 3, 220*, 54 and 4 so far.
Karnataka 373/6
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The toppers (after four rounds)
Leading Run-scorers (Elite)
1. Sanat Sangwan (Delhi): 614 runs in 8 innings at 102.33
2. Karun Nair (Karnataka): 602 runs in 7 innings at 100.33
3. Aman Mokhade (Vidarbha): 577 runs in 6 innings at 115.40
2. Karun Nair (Karnataka): 602 runs in 7 innings at 100.33
3. Aman Mokhade (Vidarbha): 577 runs in 6 innings at 115.40
Leading wicket-taker (Elite)
1. Siddarth Desai (Gujarat): 29 wickets in 8 innings at 14.79
2. Auqib Nabi (J&K): 28 wickets in 8 innings at 13.07
3. Arjun Sharma (Services): 26 wickets in 7 innings at 10.76
2. Auqib Nabi (J&K): 28 wickets in 8 innings at 13.07
3. Arjun Sharma (Services): 26 wickets in 7 innings at 10.76
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All eyes on Abhimanyu Easwaran
He missed the previous round while turning out for India A against South Africa A, a trip he’d much rather forget after bagging a pair in Bengaluru.
But on his return, he’s slipped straight back into command. Taking over the captaincy, he’s watched a fiery pace attack — led by Mohammed Shami, his younger brother Kaif, and Suraj Jaiswal — roll Assam over for 200.
Bengal are 24 for 1 in reply, with Abhimanyu and Shakib Gandhi looking to steady things at the crease.
J&K take lead
They've skittled Hyderabad for 121 in just 39.2 overs to take a 49-run lead in Jammu. Auqib Nabi finishes with four wickets. The star of the show is left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar, who had picked up a maiden five-for in first-class cricket.
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Siddesh Lad continues the good habit
Vishal Dikshit from Wankhede: Puducherry bring most of the fielders in the circle with Siddhesh Lad on 99 and he clips the ball between mid-on and midwicket for four to bring up his 13th first-class hundred.
He started this season with a century (116) against J&K, he followed it with an 80 against Chhattisgarh, and after a quiet game opposite Rajasthan, he now has back-to-back centuries against Himachal and Pondicherry.
No wonder he's Mumbai's top-scorer this season. The sun is out at the Wankhede, Lad and Sarfaraz are in a century partnership and this looks like another long day in the making for Puducherry. Mumbai 350 for 3.
Nabi to the fore for J&K again
You can keep knocking him down, but he’ll find a way to fight back.
First, they said he was a green-top merchant. Then he went and proved he could take wickets on the flattest decks in the country. Now the question is: how much longer can you keep overlooking him? Isn’t it time he got an India A look-in?
In Ranji Trophy 2024-25, he picked up 44 wickets at an astonishing average of 13.93 - no other seamer even crossed 35.
This season, he’s already sitting on 27 wickets (in his fifth games), once again the best among fast bowlers.
And this game has been another reminder of his relentlessness. After J&K were bowled out for 180, his three big strikes have reduced Hyderabad to 91 for 7 in Jammu. Can he rip through the lower order and claim a fourth five-for of the season?
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Day 2: Round 5
Haryana have hit a trough.
They opened the season with three sensational wins, before losing outright to Uttarakhand last week. Now, on another challenging deck at home in Lahli, they're 30 for 5 in reply to Services, who made 205.
Amit Shukla, the seamer, has magical figures of 7-5-5-5- so far. The onus once again is on Parth Vats and Ankit Kumar, the captain, to bail them out.
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It's the end of the day
It's stumps across the country and we come to the end of the first day's play of the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy. Here are the day's highlights and don't forget to tune in tomorrow as well:
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Centuries keep coming...
4 Centuries for Smaran in 19 first-class innings
Karnataka were 13 for 2 and then 64 for 3 when R Smaran walked out at No. 3 and built a century stand with his senior Karun Nair (95). And since Nair fell before the tea break, Smaran has led Karnataka to a respectable score with the lower order. The 22-year-old first made his name in the T20 circuit earlier this year with his six-hitting ability and he has now brought up a patient century off 165 balls, with just one six, and it's his fourth in 19 first-class innings. He had also smashed an unbeaten 220 against Kerala barely a couple of weeks ago.
And soon enough, Indrajith tucks the ball to the leg side and goes across to complete his century too, off 136 balls with five fours and four sixes. He takes his helmet off, looks a little drained, and gets a gentle hug from his partner Andre Siddarth. Update: Siddharth brings up his hundred too not too long after that and UP will perhaps wait for the new ball now.
The Baba brothers
Indrajith for Tamil Nadu and Aparajith for Kerala. These two are brothers but have been separated after Aparajith moved across the border. They are almost batting together now - Indrajith in Coimbatore and Aparajith in Indore - leading their teams with century stands to cross the 200 mark for their teams.
Aparajith is batting patiently on 60 off 116 balls along with Praveen, who went past 50 not too long ago, and Kerala are 208 for 6 against MP. Indrajith is scoring much quicker, 88 off 116, and is also fighting an injury but has struck four sixes to keep TN's fight going.
150 for Armaan Jaffer
Armaan Jaffer is going along nicely, striking at well over 70 for Mizoram against Bihar in this Plate League clash in Patna. He came down at No. 3 and has steered Mizoram since then, with his sixth first-class hundred, going past 150 after the tea break. Mizoram are solid on 350 for 3.
Tea time
We're down two sessions on the first day of this fifth round of the Ranji Trophy. There are wickets in some places, centuries in others, and thankfully no weather interruptions. Here's what has happened so far:
- Mumbai are piling on the runs against Pondicherry at Wankhede: Musheer scored 84, No. 3 Herwadkar is unbeaten on 77 and Mumbai are 215 for 2
- Maharashtra are also looking good: Arshin Kulkarni scored his maiden first-class century after Prithvi Shaw's 74 opposite Punjab
- J&K have been going strong this season but they were bowled out for 170 by Hyderabad. It could have been much worse as they were 32 for 5 at one point. And they have also removed three batters already; Hyderabad are 16 for 3, trailing by 154
- Saurashtra are going strong in Rajkot against Goa, they're 208 for 3 at tea with only one batter (Jay Gohil) going past 50 so far
- Kerala have been losing wickets despite a steady start and have stuttered to 167 for 6 with the help of Baba Aparajith's 48*. The MP spinners came on early in Indore before left-arm quick Arshad Khan took three
- Defending champs Vidarbha have been rolled over for 169 by Baroda, courtesy a five-for by left-arm spinner Ninad Rathva
- Karnataka were 13 for 2 before being rescued by Karun Nair, who was trapped lbw for 95 and they are 210 for 5 at the break
- Gujarat also saw their opener Abhishek Desai caught for 99 and are placed at 229 for 6 vs Uttarakhand
- Delhi's troubles haven't ended since their loss to J&K in the last round. Rajasthan have moved along to 189 for 2, with Sachin Yadav on 89 and KS Rathore on 72
- Sharandeep Singh, 22, of Jharkhand also got to his maiden first-class century, against Andhra
Tamil Nadu fight back, Indrajith fights injury
Tamil Nadu are yet to win a game this Ranji season and they started horribly against UP this morning in Coimbatore. They looked clueless against the UP quicks' swing bowling and were reeling at 20 for 3 in the 13th over before their No. 4 Baba Indrajith had to retire hurt. At lunch they had crawled to 41 for 3 in 26 overs.
The second session has now come to an end, in which UP bowled 28 overs and TN have fought back by scoring at 3.82 an over to steer them to 148 for 4. Indrajith returned to bat after the fall of P Vidyuth (11 off 79) to stitch a stand with Andre Siddarth that is now worth 77 runs off 102 balls. Indrajith got some treatment too after returning to the field but he also smacked two sixes over long-on to reach 48* at tea, while Siddarth is unbeaten on 67.
Maiden century for Arshin Kulkarni
Remember this guy from the Under-19 World Cup in early 2024? He is still just 20, he had impressed immensely for Maharashtra in an Under-16 tournament a few years ago with a triple-century and had played a big part in them winning the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy. He scored a century in the Maharashtra Premier League and now has his maiden first-class hundred, studded with 14 fours and a six, against Punjab in New Chandigarh. He spent the last two seasons with LSG in the IPL (playing only two games in 2024) but he was retained yesterday by them.
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Vijay Shankar 44*, Tripura 136 all out
He started this Ranji season with a 62, he smashed an unbeaten 150 in their previous game, against Assam, and now he was the last man standing on 44 as Tripura have been skilled for 136 by Railways. They have lost two and drawn two games so far, and this doesn't look good for them at all.
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Remember this day?
Prithvi Shaw gone for 74
67.14 Prithvi Shaw's average so far this Ranji season
He started steady, he picked up pace for a half-century and now he has been bowled by Harpreet Brar for 74 off 117 with four fours and two sixes. That ends Maharashtra's opening century stand of 144 in New Chandigarh. Shaw's scores this season, since he moved to Maharashtra, now read: 74, 71, 20, 8, 222, 0 and 75. His opening partner Arshin Kulkarni is motoring along nicely towards his maiden first-class century.
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Fifty for Karun Nair after lunch
Karnataka had put up decent scores in their previous fixture against Maharashtra, but today they slipped to 64 for 3 before Karun Nair steadied them again. He had scores of 4 and 15 in Pune after two big centuries - 233 and 174* - before that and has returned to runs with his half-century against Chandigarh.
174 Balls Tamil Nadu took to reach 50
Meanwhile in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu are crawling along. They have finally crossed 50 for the loss of three wickets, with B Indrajith injured.
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Time for Sunday brunch
Well, technically it's lunch time in the Ranji Trophy and here's how the action has unfolded so far, on the first day of Round 5:
- Prithvi Shaw, now playing for Maharashtra, has put on a century opening stand with Arshin Kulkarni in New Chandigarh
- J&K were fresh after beating Delhi in the last round but have slipped to 108 for 6 against Hyderabad
- Karnataka are playing at home against Chandigarh but they slipped to 64 for 3 before Karun Nair's 41* saw them through to lunch
- Mumbai going strong at 129 for 1, with another half-century from Musheer Khan against Pondicherry
- Tamil Nadu are in deep trouble at home, put in a spot of bother by the UP fast bowlers. They are 41 for 3 after 26 overs and have also seen B Indrajith retire hurt
- Kerala have been troubled by spin on the first morning in Indore, 91 for 4 with B Indrajith and Azharuddeen unbeaten at the break
- Saurashtra are being led by Jay Gohil's quick fifty against Goa in Rajkot. They are 129 for 2
- Gujarat opener Abhishek Desai is fighting on, unbeaten on 63 at the break while Guajrat are 110 for against Uttarakhand
- Defending champs Vidarbha are also four down, 98 for 4 opposite Baroda in Nagpur
- Rajasthan are 97 for 2 at home against Delhi, who are still winless from four games
- Chhattisgarh are going strong, 112 for no loss against Himachal, with fifties for both openers
Fifties for Musheer Khan and Prithvi Shaw
He was recovering from a major neck injury after an accident at the start of the season at this time last year. And now, still just 22, Musheer is nothing up one half-century after another. In the last round he scored 112 against Himachal and now he has given Mumbai a solid start against Pondicherry after his opening partner Ayush Mhatre fell for 35. Musheer has struck nine fours and is striking nicely over 90. Musheer is opening because there's no Prithvi Shaw in the Mumbai set-up anymore. Where is her?
In New Chandigarh right now, representing Maharashtra after his recent move before this season. Shaw has followed his opening partner Arshin Kulkarni to also notch up his fifty. Shaw gets there in 78 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes, following his 71 against Karnataka in the last round.
Indrajith retires hurt
Tamil Nadu were already three down and now B Indrajith has walked off retired hurt with an injury. The UP quicks have been all over the hosts in Coimbatore, removing the top three of B Sachin, N Jagadeesan and Prabosh Ranjan Paul for single-digit scores. The only batter to have reached double-figures - Indrajith - walks off the field after the drinks break. His brother B Aparajith, now playing for Kerala, has walked out to bat against MP in Indore. Aparajith recently reached the mark of 100 first-class matches and is closing in on 5000 runs in the format.
Tamil Nadu effectively 27 for 4, searching for their first win this season.
Fifty for Jaffer too
Wasim Jaffer's nephew Armaan Jaffer had moved from Mumbai to Mizoram, and he has registered another half-century in his maiden season for them. His last few scores in this campaign read 2, 81, 178 and 144. He went out at No. 3 and along with Sahil Reza has stitched a century stand for the second wicket.
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Arshin Kulkarni overshadows Prithvi Shaw
39 Balls Arshin Kulkarni took to race to his fifty
In New Chandigarh, where one would expect nice wintery temperatures and swinging conditions, 20-year-old opening batter Arshin Kulkarni has raced to a half-century off 39 balls with the help of 10 fours. His partner Prithvi Shaw is more sedate, on 14 off 36 at the other end.
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Tamil Nadu lose two early at home
They are playing at home, in Coimbatore, they won the toss in slightly warm conditions but they are two down early. Tamil Nadu have lost their openers to UP's opening fast bowlers Aaqib Khan and Kunal Tyagi. Tyagi, getting the new ball ahead of Shivam Mavi, first had B Sachin caught behind after beating him again and again, swinging the ball away from the left-hander from around the wicket. Aaqib then jagged the ball into the experienced N Jagadeesan, who got an inside edge onto his pad before the ball lobbed to the slips region for the easiest of catches. Tamil Nadu, still winless this season, are 11 for 2.
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Arunachal's woes continue
Over in the Plate League, Arunachal Pradesh come into this round after four straight losses, most recently being on the receiving end of the eight consecutive sixes from Meghalaya's Akash Choudhary in an innings defeat. This morning they are batting against Sikkim in Rangpo and have been rolled over for 91. Sikkim captain Lee Yong Lepcha and legspinner Ankur Malik have bagged four each.
Take 5
All eyes might be at Eden Gardens right now, but this Sunday morning also marks the start of the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy. We have a lot of action in store as usual: teams like Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra and Delhi are still looking for the first win. Delhi have gone over to Rajasthan after their loss at home to J&K. J&K, meanwhile, have lost a wicket early at home against Hyderabad. Mumbai have been put in to bat by Pondicherry, this home game for them is at Wankhede and not the Sharad Pawar BKC Ground. Gujarat have gone north to Dehradun and have been put in by Uttarakhand. Karnataka have chosen to bat against Chandigarh in Hubli. MP's Kumar Kartikeya has struck early after putting Kerala in, in Indore. Saurashtra off to a quick start, 29 for 0 in five overs, having opted to bat opposite Goa. Maharashtra also a bit brisk in New Chandigarh facing Punjab. Defending champs Vidarbha are batting at home in Nagpur against Baroda. Bengal's Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal has struck early at home to dent their neighbours Assam.
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