The outright wins so far in Round 5:
It's all over in Hubli; Shreyas Gopal and Shikhar Shetty, the left-arm spinner, have bowled Karnataka to a bonus-point win over Chandigarh. Made to follow-on, Chandigarh lasted all of 33.5 overs in the second innings. Gopal finishes with a match haul of 10 wickets foe the second time this season.
Maharashtra thump Punjab by an innings and 92 runs. They take seven full points from this fixture to record their second win in five matches. This takes them to 18 points in Group B. Vicky Ostwal finishes with six wickets.
Tripura slump to an innings defeat against Railways; the game was set up by centuries from Mohammad Saif and Bhargav Merai. This is Railways' first win this season and it takes them temporarily to No. 4 in Group C.
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Round 5, Day 3, stumps
1. Senapati hits century for Odisha; Nagaland 41/1 needing 424 more. Can they hold on to a draw on Day 4?
2. Abhishek Reddy's 247 gives Andhra a great chance to target six points against Jharkhand. They're 34/2, trailing by 205.
3. Shahbaz, Sumanta put Bengal in a dominant position; Assam 98/3, trail by 144 in Kalyani.
4. Delhi bowled out for 262 in response to Rajasthan's 570 for 7 declared
5. Yuvrajsinh Dodiya takes six as Saurashtra make Goa follow-on; Centurion Tejrana out cheaply in 2nd innings; they're 77/2, trail by 150.
Rinku 98* at stumps
Uttar Pradesh have managed to avoid the follow-on, and are now just 116 away from pocketing a lead. This is a prospect that seemed unlikely when Tamil Nadu had them 191 for 5. But Rinku Singh had marshalled the lower order, forming key partnerships with Shivam Mavi (104) and Shivam Sharma (39*) to take the fight to Tamil Nadu. Rinku is unbeaten on 98 at stumps. If he gets there, it'll be his second century in two Ranji outings this season.
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A host of outrights expected
- J&K are four wickets away from winning their third game, against Hyderabad
- Mumbai need five more to beat Puducherry for their third win
- Haryana hurtling to their second straight loss, against Services
- Nalkande takes four as Vidarbha eye big win over Baroda
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Vicky Ostwal: Another one to watch from India's spin stables
India have a battery of very competent left-arm spinners beneath the national setup.
R Sai Kishore, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar are foremost. But also look out for Maharashtra's Vicky Ostwal, who has run through Punjab's middle order to pick up his second five-for in first-class cricket.
Made to follow-on, Punjab are 85 for 8 in Mullanpur. It's just a matter of time for Maharashtra, who are on their way to a second win that will take them to the top of the Group C points table for the moment.
Just prior to the domestic season, Deivarayan Muthu sat down with Vicky Ostwal to trace his journey.
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Rinku keeps UP fighting
You just can't keep him out of cricket for too long.
He featured in just one rained off game in Australia (in November) and one game at the Asia Cup (October), but wherever he's had an opportunity, he's been back playing for Uttar Pradesh.
Last month in his first outing for UP this season, he struck an unbeaten 165 that helped them scale Andhra's 470 in a thrilling battle for the first-innings honours.
Here against Tamil Nadu, he walked in to bat at 149 for 3, and has helped steer a wobbly middle-order. He has brought up his half-century with a six off R Sai Kishore.
UP 239/5, still trail by 216. Rinku unbeaten on 50.
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Karnataka enforce follow-on
Manan Vohra wages a lone battle for Chandigarh, remains unbeaten on 106 - his 12th first-class century. Chandigarh have been asked to follow-on after being bowled out for 222, which gives Karnataka a lead of 325. Shreyas Gopal picks his 10th five-for; his second this season.
An outright win here will help Karnataka open up a lead at the top of the Group C standings.
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Will Mumbai enforce follow-on?
They've reduced Puducherry to 130 for 8 shortly after lunch, with spin twins - Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani - picking up three quick wickets after a brief period of resistance from Mohit Kale. Puducherry still trail by 498 runs. Logically they should, heck I think they will. But worth asking nonetheless.
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Lunch updates
- J&K set Hyderabad a target of 472; Samad hits century
- Maharashtra's Hangargekar takes five; Punjab follow-on
- Shahbaz hits ton, Sumanta nears one as Bengal dominate v Assam
- Railways eye outright as Tripura follow-on
ICYMI: Karnataka are playing Chandigarh in Hubli.
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Apple Tom bowls Kerala into the lead
In a crucial game, perhaps one they absolutely have to win to keep their knockouts hopes alive, Kerala have bowled Madhya Pradesh out for 192 to pocket a 89-run lead in Indore.
This has been made possible thanks to seamer Eden Apple Tom, who we all first got a glimpse of in the final of the previous edition. Apple Tom finishes with 4 for 55.
Kerala's lead could've been a lot bigger if not for Saransh Jain's rearguard. For the second-game running, the allrounder held fort, this time top scoring with 67.
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Goa's new batting sensation: Abhinav Tejrana
3 Centuries he's hit in his first five matches
He began with a double-ton on debut against Chandigarh. Then made an unbeaten 73, the lone bright spark, after Goa were made to follow-on by Karnataka.
Then he struck 131 to help Goa take the first-innings honours against Punjab. Last week in Porvorim, his second-innings 69 could've been the catalyst for a Goan win, but for Saransh Jain's blinder helping Madhya Pradesh win.
Here he is again, leading Goa's charge with a superb century after Saurashtra posted 585/7 declared. Goa still trail by 403, with eight wickets in hand. Tejrana is unbeaten on 112.
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Abdul Samad studs J&K's domination
He wasn't nearly picked at the start of the season. However, over the course of the past few weeks, Abdul Samad, 24, has shown inkling of form and potential that made everyone sit up and take note in 2020-21, when Jammu & Kashmir made the Ranji knockouts.
After threatening, with scores of 76 and 85 in two of his last four innings, Samad has finally brought up his maiden century this season, and his seventh overall, as J&k stretch their lead against Hyderabad to 378.
Samad is unbeaten on 114. His partner-in-crime for much of his innings so far was Kanhaiya Wadhwan, who made 95, with the pair putting on 191 for the fifth wicket.
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Century for Shahbaz Ahmed
2 Shahbaz's second in first-class cricket. This one has come off 117 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes. Bengal lead Assam by 141 with six wickets in hand
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Shreyas Gopal continues to run riot
At 32, Shreyas Gopal is no springchicken. Having had his share of ups and downs, he's now focused on delivering and maximising the most of every opportunity he gets.
Last year, he returned to Karnataka after spending a season away in Kerala. And since his return, his performances have gotten even stronger.
This season alone, he has time and again rescued the team with both bat and ball. Last week, he made 71 and took a four-for as Karnataka pocketed the lead against Maharashtra. Earlier in the season, he picked up 8 for 110, and shored up Karnataka's lower order with a sturdy 56 against Saurashtra.
In Hubli, he has now picked up four of the five Chandigarh wickets to fall after Karnataka declare on 547 for 8. Chandigarh still trail by 450, and are staring at a follow-on.
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Gujarat move the game along quickly
There are at least three teams - Bengal, Haryana and Uttarakhand - eyeing the two qualifying spots from Group C. Amid this, Gujarat have made their own bid to join the race.
In an unconventional move, they declared their first innings on 324 for 8 at the end of the first day's play, seemingly in an effort to try and give themselves a chance of an outright. This is something they desperately needed, given they have just one outright win in four games so far.
And they've walked the talk by bowling out Uttarakhand for 272 to take a 51-run lead, which they'll hope to build into something substantial before trying to prise out the 10 wickets they need to win.
Siddarth Desai, the left-arm spinner, who is currently on top of the wicket taker's chart picked up three wickets, while Vishal Jayswal, the seam-bowling allrounder who Harshal Patel, the IPL star, rates very highly.
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Sumanta: Bengal's late bloomer at 34
Sumanta made his Ranji debut in the 2022-23 final against Saurashtra at Eden Gardens, scoring 1 in each innings. At the time, he didn't think he would get another opportunity. But a steady stream of runs in the club circuit and the pre-season tournaments pushed him back into the frame ahead of this season.
He began the season with 82 against Uttarakhand and 63 against Gujarat - knocks that promised more but fell short of the big score he was hunting. That wait ended in the previous game against Railways, where he finally converted. Now, having scored a fluent half-century, he has a great chance to convert into three figures for back-to-back centuries.
Bengal 329/4, lead by 129.
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Round 5, day 3: Shahbaz, Sumanta drive Bengal
Hello and a warm welcome to ESPNcricinfo's ongoing coverage of the Ranji Trophy.
We start with an update from Kalyani, where Bengal have pressed ahead, stretching their lead over Assam past 100. They still have six wickets in hand, and a proper batter in Shahbaz Ahmed looking to bring up his second first-class century.
He's accompanied by Sumanta Gupta, a late-bloomer at 34. This is only his sixth first-class game, but he sure is making up for lost time. He struck his maiden first-class century last week against Railways, and is now approaching a half-century.
Bengal 303/4, leading by 103.
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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