Cricket

Karnataka's Ranji Trophy campaign faces a setback as ace pacer V. Vyshak is ruled out of the upcoming match against Bengal due to his involvement with the India T20I side. This leaves the team with a relatively inexperienced fast bowling unit, as Prasidh Krishna is also unavailable.Vyshak's absence will be a significant blow to Karnataka's bowling attack. The 25-year-old has been a key performer for the team in recent seasons, taking 35 wickets in 10 matches. His pace and swing have been instrumental in Karnataka's success.In Vyshak's absence, V. Koushik will lead the bowling attack. The 23-year-old has 19 First Class appearances to his name and will be looking to make a mark in this crucial match. Vidyadhar Patil and Abhilash Shetty are likely to partner Koushik.Shreyas Gopal, who took an eight-wicket match-haul in the previous game against Bihar, will handle the bulk of the spin duties. The 29-year-old is a seasoned campaigner and will be expected to provide control and wickets.Bengal, too, will have to deal with a list of absentees. Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami is not yet fit, while opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel, and pacer Mukesh Kumar are with the India-A squad.Wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, set to retire at the end of this domestic season, will be keen to make a mark. The 38-year-old has been a stalwart of Indian cricket and will be looking to end his career on a high.Bengal missed out on valuable points when its match against Bihar was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The visitor will look to compensate, but this will not be easy against an even foe in Karnataka.

Mohammed Shami's return to competitive cricket has been further delayed as he was not included in the Bengal squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Bengal will face Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from Wednesday, followed by a clash with Madhya Pradesh in Indore from November 13.Shami was expected to feature in the Karnataka fixture to assess his fitness in a match situation. He had bowled at full tilt in the nets after India's recent Test against New Zealand, albeit with a bandage on his operated leg. India's bowling coach Morne Morkel also monitored his progress.Shami expressed confidence in his recovery, stating that he felt "100%" in the nets. "I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body. So, we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%," he said.However, India skipper Rohit Sharma cautioned against rushing Shami back into action. "We don't want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed," Rohit said.In addition to Shami, Bengal will also be without Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar, who are currently with the India A squad in Australia. Akash Deep, who was part of the Indian team for the New Zealand series, was also omitted from the state squad.Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who has announced his retirement from cricket after the ongoing domestic season, has been named in the squad for the two matches.

Mohammed Shami, India's premier fast bowler, will miss Bengal's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka due to an ongoing ankle injury. The Bengal squad, announced on Saturday, did not include Shami's name.However, there is a strong possibility that Shami will return to action in Bengal's subsequent match against Madhya Pradesh, scheduled to begin on November 13 in Indore. Sources close to the team have indicated that Shami is unlikely to be rushed back into action and will make his competitive return at his own pace.Shami, who has taken 229 wickets in 64 Tests, has been recovering from an ankle injury since the conclusion of the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup. He underwent surgery in February and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Despite his absence, Bengal remains in a strong position in Elite Group C of the Ranji Trophy, holding fourth place with five points after three matches. Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla will be hoping that Shami's return will provide a significant boost to the team's title aspirations.Shami's last competitive match was the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup final against Australia, where he emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps. He played a pivotal role in India's historic Test series win in Australia in 2018/19, claiming 16 wickets in four matches.If Shami recovers in time, he could be available for the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in Brisbane, starting on December 14. His return would be a major boost for India, who are looking to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after their triumph in 2020/21.

Bengaluru's Ranji Trophy squad has been bolstered with the inclusion of K.V. Aneesh and Abhinav Manohar as reinforcements for their upcoming away match against Bihar. The eight-time champion Karnataka team is in dire need of a victory after collecting only two points from its first two matches.Aneesh, 23, made his debut last season and has played four First-Class games, including the Ranji quarterfinal against Vidarbha where he scored 34 and 40 batting at No.3. Manohar, 30, is yet to make his red-ball debut. The hard-hitting batter has played 36 T20s and seven List A matches for Karnataka and has turned out for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Most recently, he finished with 550 runs at a strike-rate of 194.35 in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20.Pacer Vidwath Kaverappa is not in the squad as he continues his recovery from the shin injury sustained during the Duleep Trophy.The squad:Mayank Agarwal (Capt.), Nikin Jose, Manish Pandey, R. Smaran, K.V. Aneesh, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Sujay Sateri, Hardik Raj, V. Vyshak, V. Koushik, Luvnith Sisodia, Mohsin Khan, Vidyadhar Patil, Kishan S. Bedare, Abhilash Shetty.

Karnataka and Kerala were forced to share a point each after their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C encounter at the Alur Grounds ended in a frustrating draw due to persistent rain. The match was marred by inclement weather, with only two sessions of play possible out of a total of 12.On the opening day, Kerala managed to reach 161 for three in the final session. However, the second day's play was completely washed out, leaving both teams with a solitary point. The result was particularly disappointing for Karnataka, who had also been forced to settle for a draw in their rain-affected opening tie against Madhya Pradesh.Kerala, on the other hand, had secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Punjab in their first game, giving them a total of six points. Karnataka, with just one point from two matches, will now travel to Patna to face Bihar from October 26. Kerala, meanwhile, will clash with Bengal in Kolkata.The draw has left both teams in a precarious position in the standings. Karnataka, the eight-time Ranji Trophy champions, will need to secure victories in their remaining matches to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Kerala, too, will need to perform consistently to maintain their position in the top half of the table.The weather conditions have played a significant role in the early stages of the Ranji Trophy, with several matches being affected by rain. The BCCI will be hoping for better weather in the coming weeks to ensure that the tournament can be completed as scheduled.

Rain Interrupts Karnataka's Ranji Trophy Campaign, Frustrating Players and FansKarnataka's Ranji Trophy Elite Group C campaign has been hampered by inclement weather, with the team's match against Kerala at the Alur Grounds delayed by six hours on Friday due to wet spots on the field. This follows a similar experience in their opening match against Madhya Pradesh, where they were forced to settle for a solitary point.The persistent rain and drizzle have left the Alur field in a precarious state, with the wet patches refusing to dry out even under the blazing sun. The umpires were unmoved by two close shouts for leg-before against Kerala opener Rohan Kunnummal, adding to the frustration of the Karnataka players.Kunnummal, who was batting positively, made the most of the conditions, driving superbly in the 'V' and breaching the fence multiple times. His standout shot was a hoick over long-off against left-arm spinner Hardik Raj. Vathsal Govind, in contrast, played a more sedate innings, eschewing expansive stroke-play and focusing on clipping off his pads and steering behind square.At stumps, Kerala had reached 88 for no loss, with Kunnummal batting on 57 and Govind on 31. The match was called off owing to bad light with seven overs remaining.The weather delays have put Karnataka in a difficult position. If Saturday's play is also affected, they could end up with another frustrating draw, which would jeopardize their chances of progressing in the tournament.

Karnataka's Ranji Trophy hopes have received a significant boost with the return of experienced leg-spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal. After a brief stint with Kerala in the 2023-24 season, Gopal has rejoined his home state, eager to contribute to their elusive Ranji Trophy triumph since 2014-15.Gopal's return is a testament to his unwavering loyalty to Karnataka. Despite receiving offers from other states, he has chosen to prioritize his home team's success. This decision reflects his deep connection to Karnataka and his desire to make a meaningful impact on their cricketing fortunes.In the 2022-23 First Class season, Gopal's batting prowess came to the fore as he scored 360 runs at an average of 45. However, he is determined to regain his status as a formidable bowler. He has spent the last year honing his skills, focusing on improving his accuracy and consistency.Gopal's return is particularly crucial for Karnataka, who have struggled to find a reliable spinner in recent years. His experience and ability to control the game with his spin bowling will be invaluable to the team. He is confident of contributing with both bat and ball, aiming for a target of 30-35 wickets and 500 runs in the upcoming season.As a senior pro, Gopal also recognizes his responsibility to mentor the team's younger spinners, Hardik Raj and Mohsin Khan. He is eager to share his knowledge and experience, helping them develop their skills and reach their full potential.Karnataka will be hoping that Gopal's return will inspire the team to break their Ranji Trophy drought. With his experience, leadership, and all-round abilities, he is poised to play a pivotal role in their quest for glory.

Sanju Samson, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, has confirmed his availability for Kerala's upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, scheduled to commence on October 18 in Alur. This announcement comes after Samson's impressive performances in the recently concluded three-T20I series against Bangladesh.Samson's inclusion in the Kerala squad is a significant boost for the team, which has already secured a convincing eight-wicket victory in its opening game against Punjab. The 28-year-old's experience and skill will be invaluable to the Sachin Baby-led unit."Yes, Sanju Samson reached out to me and confirmed his availability for the next game. He will be playing the match vs Karnataka in Alur," said P Prasanth, chairman of Kerala's senior selection committee.While Samson's availability for this particular match is confirmed, his future participation in the Ranji Trophy will depend on his commitments to the Indian team. To ensure continuity within the squad, Baby will continue to lead the side."For now, Sanju's availability for this game is confirmed. His future availability depends on his India commitments. So that's why Baby will continue to lead the side," added Prasanth.Samson's recent performances in the Duleep Trophy have been impressive, with the batter scoring a century and a couple of substantial 40s for India D. However, it remains uncertain whether he will don the wicketkeeping gloves for Kerala in the upcoming fixture."That the coach and all will take the call along with Sanju. Whether he keeps or not is totally up to them," said Prasanth.Kerala finds itself in Group C of the ongoing Ranji Trophy alongside Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. A convincing win in the opening fixture has undoubtedly boosted the team's confidence.Prior to the season, Kerala acquired the services of Baba Aparajith, a former India U-19 player and a consistent performer for Tamil Nadu. Aparajith's contributions with both bat and ball have been crucial for the team.

Nikin Jose's valiant 99 (216b, 8x4, 6x6) denied Madhya Pradesh the bragging rights over Karnataka as their 2024-25 Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener petered out to a draw at the Holkar Stadium.The hosts, resuming on 425 for eight, set themselves a minimum of 98 overs to bowl Karnataka out and secure three points. For the visitors, gaining the lead was a distant dream, but it was an ideal opportunity to showcase their resilience and set the tone for the season ahead.Nikin and Shreyas Gopal (60 n.o., 110b, 7x4, 1x6) rose to the challenge, rescuing Karnataka from a precarious 72 for four with a 127-run partnership. Nikin fell agonizingly short of a well-deserved century, trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya minutes before tea.However, the 24-year-old, who had endured a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, had already made a significant impact on both his team and himself. At 206 for five, bad light and a slight drizzle officially ended proceedings, giving both sides a point each.Nikin, who opened the innings, weathered the early onslaught of off-spinner Saransh Jain and Kartikeya, who bowled 32 of the 37 overs in the morning session as the new cherry gripped, turned, and bounced. Mayank Agarwal and Manish Pandey were both caught by close-in fielders off Kartikeya, while Devdutt Padikkal paid the price for playing back to Saransh's delivery that slid and thudded into the pads.Debutant R. Smaran concentrated hard (17, 51b, 1x4, 1x6), but had his off-stump rearranged by Saransh while trying to guard against the one that would hold its line. From there on, Nikin and Shreyas dug in. After safely negotiating until lunch, the duo scored briskly, collecting 46 runs from the next 10 overs. Nikin, after impressing with his cut shots early, slapped Saransh for a four and six down the ground. The half-century was had by flicking Avesh Khan to the mid-wicket fence.Shreyas, who was reprieved by Rajat Patidar at backward short-leg when on six, played the ideal foil, nudging, driving, and sweeping his way to his 15th First Class fifty. Nikin moved into the 90s with towering back-to-back maximums off Saransh. Kartikeya spared his spin partner of further misery, but it came a tad too late.