Eight-time champions Karnataka stormed into their first Ranji Trophy final since 2014-15, sealing passage on the strength of a massive first-innings lead against the Uttarakhand cricket team in Lucknow. In the title clash, Karnataka will lock horns with first-timers Jammu and Kashmir, who thrashed Bengal by six wickets in the other semifinal held at Kalyani.
Karnataka’s dominance was built around an imposing batting effort that yielded 1,059 runs across two innings — 736 in the first and 323 in the second. While the batters laid the foundation, the bowlers made a late push for an outright win on the final day.
After Smaran Ravichandran followed up his first-innings ton with another century in the second essay, KL Rahul resumed Day 5 unbeaten on 70 and eyed a hundred of his own. However, Karnataka lost their last four wickets for just 24 runs, folding for 323.
Left-arm spinner Mayank Mishra returned 4 for 69, while Rahul added only 16 more before running out of partners.
Set an improbable 827 for victory, Uttarakhand’s realistic objective was survival. Even that proved challenging early on as Vijaykumar Vyshak and Prasidh Krishna struck in tandem to remove three of the top four — Prashant Chopra, Bhupen Lalwani and Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani, cheaply.
Avneesh Sudha counterattacked with a brisk half-century and, along with brief partnerships, steadied the innings. But Shreyas Gopal’s probing spell through the middle overs derailed the resistance, reducing Uttarakhand to 156 for 6 and reviving Karnataka’s hopes of forcing a result.
The lower order, however, held firm. Aditya Rawat and Abhay Negi combined in a determined rearguard effort, batting 22.3 overs for a century stand. Both reached fighting fifties, frustrating Karnataka’s push for a win.
With time running out and no further breakthrough in sight, the captains agreed to shake hands, the match ending in a draw, a result that confirmed Karnataka’s return to the Ranji Trophy final by virtue of their first innings lead.
Title clash likely in Hubballi
According to multiple sources, the Ranji Trophy final, scheduled from February 24, will most likely be played at the KSCA Stadium in Rajnagar, Hubballi, although an official confirmation from the BCCI is awaited. This will be the 91st Ranji Trophy title clash, with Karnataka having featured in 15 of those, and won the title on eight occasions. Last time they played the Ranji final was in 2015 when they beat Tamil Nadu.
Going by the head-to-head record of both the finalists, Karnataka have won all their four encounters against J&K, with their last meeting in Chennai in 2022.