Cricket

Karnataka Unveils Squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vysakh Vijaykumar ReturnsKarnataka has announced its 15-player squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scheduled to take place in Indore from November 23rd to December 5th. The team will be led by Mayank Agarwal, with Manish Pandey serving as vice-captain.The squad features the return of fast bowler Vysakh Vijaykumar, who recently missed two rounds of the Ranji Trophy due to his selection for the Indian T20I team. Vijaykumar's inclusion bolsters Karnataka's bowling attack, which also includes experienced campaigners like Shreyas Gopal and Vasuki Koushik.Karnataka's batting lineup boasts a wealth of talent, including India's middle-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinav Manohar, and KL Shrijith. The team will be hoping for consistent performances from these batsmen to guide them through the tournament.Karnataka has been placed in Group B for the tournament and will face a challenging schedule. They will open their campaign against Uttarakhand, followed by matches against Tripura, Saurashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Baroda, and Gujarat.The team's support staff remains unchanged, with Yere Goud continuing as head coach and Mansur Ali Khan as bowling coach. They will be tasked with guiding Karnataka to success in the tournament.The full Karnataka squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is as follows:* Mayank Agarwal (Captain)* Manish Pandey (Vice-captain)* Devdutt Padikkal* Abhinav Manohar* Shreyas Gopal* R Smaran* KL Shrijith (Wicketkeeper)* Vysakh Vijaykumar* MacNeil H Noronha* Vasuki Koushik* Manoj Bhandage* Vidyadhar Patil* LR Chethan (Wicketkeeper)* Shubhang Hegde* L Manvanth Kumar

Krishnan Shrijith's First Class debut for Karnataka against Uttar Pradesh was a bittersweet moment. While he celebrated a remarkable century, the absence of his late father weighed heavily on his heart.Shrijith's father had always been a source of inspiration, urging him to work hard and never give up. His words echoed in Shrijith's mind as he faced the daunting task of rescuing Karnataka from a precarious position.With the team reeling at five for two, Shrijith stepped up to the plate and played a gritty innings. He faced 125 deliveries, hitting 14 boundaries and two sixes. His century not only helped Karnataka recover but also marked a significant milestone in his career.Shrijith's success is a testament to his determination and the guidance he received from his father. He credits the Maharaja T20 Trophy for preparing him for the challenges of First Class cricket. The tournament's high-intensity games and demanding schedule helped him develop mental resilience and adaptability.As Shrijith looks to cement his place in the Karnataka team, his century has raised hopes that he could be the answer to their wicketkeeper-batter conundrum. His ability to combine solid batting with reliable wicketkeeping skills makes him a valuable asset.Shrijith's journey is a reminder of the power of perseverance and the importance of having a strong support system. His father's legacy will continue to inspire him as he strives to achieve greater heights in the sport.

Debutants Krishnan Shrijith and Yashovardhan Parantap played pivotal roles as Karnataka tightened their grip on Uttar Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.Shrijith, resuming on 68, played a composed innings, reaching his maiden century off 125 balls. He was ably supported by Parantap, who contributed a gritty 118-ball half-century. The duo's partnership of 61 for the seventh wicket helped Karnataka extend their first-innings lead to 186 runs.Uttar Pradesh's bowlers struggled to contain the lower order, with three defiant partnerships contributing to Karnataka's total. Skipper Aryan Juyal and Madhav Kaushik led the hosts' fightback in the second innings, but Karnataka's bowlers kept them in check.Shrijith's century was a testament to his patience and determination. He weathered a barrage of short balls from Shivam Mavi and Aaqib Khan, and played with a solid technique. Parantap, on the other hand, showed maturity beyond his years, exhibiting a precocious grit that belied his 20 years.The match is poised for an exciting finish, with Uttar Pradesh needing to bat aggressively to chase down a challenging target. Karnataka, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on their advantage and secure a crucial victory.

Karnataka Dominates Uttar Pradesh on Day 1 of Ranji Trophy ClashLucknow, November 13: Karnataka bowlers, led by V. Koushik, put on a stellar performance to dismantle Uttar Pradesh (UP) for a mere 89 runs on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The bowlers' brilliance set the stage for Karnataka's batters to take a 38-run first-innings lead.The morning haze enveloped the venue, creating a challenging environment for UP's batters. Koushik and Vidyadhar Patil exploited the conditions to reduce the hosts to five for three within the first five overs. Vidyadhar drew first blood, dismissing Abhishek Goswami, while Koushik induced Madhav Kaushik's outside edge and castled skipper Aryan Juyal in consecutive deliveries.Debutant Rituraj Sharma and Aaditya Sharma briefly resisted the pacers, but the latter was strangled down leg. Debutant fast bowler Yashovardhan Parantap joined the party, dismissing Rituraj with an angled delivery. Koushik completed his fifer with Sameer Rizvi edging behind, while the lower-order offered little resistance.Karnataka's batting faced a similar fate initially, with Nikin Jose and R. Smaran falling cheaply to Aaqib Khan. However, debutant Krishnan Shrijith played a composed knock under pressure, adding 48 runs with skipper Mayank Agarwal. Shrijith held firm amidst some poor shot-making, including Manish Pandey's tame dismissal.At the close of play, Karnataka had reached 127 for five, with Shrijith unbeaten on 68. The visitors will look to extend their lead on Day 2 and put pressure on UP.

Karnataka, with nine points from four games, will face Uttar Pradesh in a crucial Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Karnataka's campaign has been marred by rain, resulting in two weather-curtailed matches and a point each. Their only bright spot was an eight-wicket win against Bihar.Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, is winless and languishes in sixth place. They suffered a heavy defeat against Kerala, crumbling for 162 and 116 in an innings-defeat. Karnataka's spin attack, led by Shreyas Gopal, will hope to exploit Uttar Pradesh's vulnerability to spin.Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal will need to find form, having averaged only 27.2 this season. However, they will be relieved to have Nikin Jose back in the squad after he sustained an injury while fielding against Bengal.Uttar Pradesh's batting has relied heavily on openers Madhav Kaushiv and Aryan Juyal, while their middle-order has not delivered consistently. International duties have depleted the pace attacks of both sides, but Karnataka has coped better, with V. Koushik emerging as a reliable spearhead.

Bengal and Karnataka played out a tame draw in their Elite-C Ranji Trophy encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Bengal, resuming on 127 for three, opted for a cautious approach, batting beyond lunch to set Karnataka an improbable target of 364.Sudip Kumar, who had scored a century in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 101, while Wriddhiman Saha contributed a solid 63 not out. Bengal declared their second innings on 283 for five, leaving Karnataka with less than two sessions to bat.Karnataka's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost openers Mayank Agarwal and Kishan Bedare cheaply. However, R. Smaran (35 not out), Shreyas Gopal (32), and Manish Pandey (30 not out) steadied the ship, guiding the home team to safety.Bengal's bowlers, led by Ishan Porel and Akash Deep, kept the pressure on Karnataka's batsmen, but the visitors were unable to force a breakthrough. The match ended in a draw, with Karnataka earning three points and Bengal taking home one point.Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary expressed satisfaction with the result, saying, "We wanted to bat for as long as possible and put pressure on Karnataka. We knew they had some quality bowlers, but we were confident in our batting lineup."Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal admitted that his team had been affected by "a few soft dismissals" and that the batters were keen to take corrective action. He also highlighted the absence of regulars like K.L. Rahul, V. Vyshak, and Devdutt Padikkal, who are away on international duty."We want our players to play a higher grade of cricket. We want to keep fighting and find ways to win games for Karnataka. If we get a win in the next game, then suddenly things look different," Agarwal said.

Bengal tightened its grip on its Elite 'C' Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka on Friday, moving into a strong position on the penultimate day.Bengal's fast bowler Ishan Porel spearheaded the morning session, claiming three quick wickets to dismiss Karnataka for 221. With an 80-run first-innings lead, Bengal adopted a cautious approach in its second innings, reaching 127 for three. The visitor now holds an overall advantage of 207 runs, putting it in a favorable position to secure a victory on Saturday.Resuming on 155 for five, Karnataka relied on overnight batters Abhinav Manohar and Shreyas Gopal to build a substantial partnership. However, their hopes were dashed when Porel dismissed Shreyas (28) caught behind in the fourth over of the day.Shortly after, Karnataka suffered a major setback when Manohar was caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. The umpire upheld the appeal for an inside edge, despite Manohar's protestations. Young Hardik Raj (11) was also sent back after attempting a tight single, with substitute Pradipta Pramanik throwing down the stumps.Vidyadhar Patil (33) and V. Koushik (11) provided some resistance, putting on 40 runs for the ninth wicket. Patil showcased his batting prowess, striking the ball cleanly and powerfully when deliveries were in his arc.Karnataka's hopes of closing the gap with Bengal's total evaporated when fast bowler Suraj Sindhu uprooted Vidyadhar's stumps.Bengal's openers, Shuvam Dey (30) and Sudip Chatterjee (48), blunted the new ball threat with grit and patience. By the time the duo was dismissed - both to thick edges - Karnataka had lost ground.In the evening session, a Vidyadhar peach stunned first-innings centurion Anustup Majumdar. The Bengal skipper pressed forward to defend, but Vidyadhar snuck the ball between bat and pad to flatten the middle stump.

In the absence of regular pace bowlers Prasidh Krishna, Vidhwath Kaverappa, and V. Vyshak, the onus fell upon V. Koushik to lead the Karnataka bowling attack in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match against Bengal. Koushik rose to the occasion, showcasing exceptional skill to record impressive figures of five for 38.Koushik maintained a consistent good length outside off throughout his 25 overs, inducing edges that resulted in five catches behind the stumps. His performance helped Karnataka dismiss Bengal for 301, with Koushik adding two wickets to his overnight tally.In response, Karnataka's batting faced early setbacks before Abhinav Manohar (50 batting) and Shreyas Gopal (23 batting) steadied the ship. Manohar reached his maiden First Class fifty in his second outing, guiding Karnataka to 155 for five at the close of play.Koushik's First Class dream run continues, with the seamer now boasting 80 wickets in 20 matches at an exceptional average of 17.2. His mastery lies in his ability to hit the right lengths consistently, despite not being an express pacer."I have worked a lot on hitting the right lengths. It comes quite naturally to me because I am not a pacer who can bowl 135 or 140-plus kmph. I try to bowl upwards of 120 kmph and try to hit the length. That is what my mastery is," Koushik explained.Manohar, meanwhile, expressed his delight after reaching his maiden First Class fifty. The 30-year-old, making his first steps in red-ball domestic cricket, lifted the spirits of the home team with a big six in the final session.Nikin Jose, who suffered a blow near the eye on Wednesday, did not come out to bat. Kishan Bedare took his place as the concussion substitute and made a handy contribution of 23.

Bengal's Anustup Majumdar Century Rescues Team from Early TroubleVeteran Bengal skipper Anustup Majumdar played a pivotal role in steering his team out of early trouble on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Karnataka. Opting to bat first, Bengal lost opener Shuvam Dey for a duck and Sudip Gharami for 5, leaving them reeling at 21/2.Majumdar, batting at No. 4, steadied the innings with a crucial partnership with Sudip Chatterjee (50). The 40-year-old captain showcased exceptional control, hitting 16 fours on his way to a century off 157 balls. The pair added 100 runs for the third wicket before Karnataka's Vasuki Koushik dismissed Chatterjee.Majumdar remained unruffled, anchoring the innings with authority while Shahbaz Ahmed provided solid support. However, Majumdar's fine innings came to an end just after his century, trapped lbw by Shreyas Gopal. Avilin Ghosh played a quick counter-attacking knock of 27 before debutant seamer Abhilash Shetty dismissed him.At stumps, Shahbaz was unbeaten on 54, alongside veteran keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha (6 not out). Bengal finished the day at 249/5, leaving Karnataka with a slight advantage.Jalaj Saxena Creates History with Double MilestoneIn another Group C match, Kerala's Jalaj Saxena became the first player in Ranji Trophy history to achieve the remarkable double of 400 wickets and 6000 runs. The 37-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder claimed 5/56 in 17 overs to cross the 400-wicket milestone, adding to his 6000-run mark achieved last week.Kerala bundled out Uttar Pradesh for a modest 162, with Basil Thampi providing support with 2/18. In reply, Kerala reached 82/2 at stumps, trailing by 80 runs.Madhya Pradesh Dominate Bihar with Centuries from Shubham Sharma and Venkatesh IyerIn Group E, Madhya Pradesh captain Shubham Sharma notched up his second century of the season, while Venkatesh Iyer's explosive ton put his team firmly in command against Bihar. Sharma crafted an unbeaten 134 off 183 balls, while Iyer smashed 118 not out off just 113 balls, featuring four sixes and 11 fours.Their 234-run unbroken stand has placed Madhya Pradesh in a dominant position going into the next day.Punjab Spinners Fox HaryanaIn Group B, rookie spin duo Emanjot Singh Chahal and Jass Inder Singh spun a web around Haryana, sharing seven wickets to bowl out the group leaders for a mere 114. Emanjot took 3/43, while Jass Inder starred with figures of 4/33.In reply, Punjab reached 90/5 at stumps, thanks to Anmolpreet Singh's gritty 45 not out. They trail Haryana by 24 runs heading into the next day.