Cricket

Mayank Markande's six-wicket haul and Gurnoor Brar's three-wicket contribution propelled Punjab to a first-innings lead over Kerala in the Ranji Trophy match at the KCA-St. Xavier's College ground on Sunday.Markande, known for his guile and control, exploited the variable bounce of the track to bamboozle the Kerala batters. He dismissed opener Rohan Kunnummal, captain Sachin Baby, and Aditya Sarwate with precise deliveries that exposed their indecision.Brar, introduced late into the attack, made an immediate impact. He broke the promising stand between Akshay Chandran and Jalaj Saxena, inducing an edge from Chandran with a delivery that moved away. Saxena, who had started well, wasted his start by slapping a short ball from Brar to Anmolpreet Singh at mid-on.Kerala's middle order failed to provide any resistance, with Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and Vishnu Vinod all falling cheaply. Markande returned to dismiss Sarwate and Basil Thampi off successive balls, giving Punjab a crucial 15-run lead.In their second innings, Punjab lost three early wickets to Kerala's spinners. However, the match remains evenly poised heading into the final day, with Punjab needing to bat cautiously to set up a challenging target for Kerala.

Vidarbha all-rounder Aditya Sarwate has made a significant move by joining Kerala for the upcoming domestic cricket season. The 34-year-old has obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) and will become the third professional player for Kerala this season, alongside Tamil Nadu's B. Aparajith and Madhya Pradesh's Jalaj Saxena.Sarwate's decision to leave Vidarbha, where he spent nine seasons, was driven by his desire to play in all three formats of the game. Kerala's secretary, Vinod S. Kumar, confirmed that the association will soon sign a formal contract with the player."After Shreyas Gopal left for Karnataka, we were looking for a genuine all-rounder who could play in all three formats, and Aditya fitted the bill," said Kumar. "He has performed creditably for Vidarbha for the last nine seasons, and I think his experience and skill will be an asset for Kerala this season."As a left-arm spinner, Sarwate has taken over 250 wickets for Vidarbha and is expected to provide strong support for Jalaj Saxena, who has been Kerala's main strike bowler in recent seasons. However, Saxena will only play red-ball cricket for Kerala this season."We had informed Jalaj that he will be selected only for the Ranji Trophy this season," said Kumar. "He has been our strike bowler and leading wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy for the last few seasons, and we cannot ignore that. But we felt we needed to groom youngsters for the shorter formats and told Jalaj he was not in our plans for white-ball cricket."Sarwate's addition to the Kerala squad is expected to bolster their all-round capabilities and enhance their chances of success in the upcoming domestic season.

Seasoned Tamil Nadu batter Baba Aparajith is set to don the Kerala jersey, as confirmed by The Hindu. The 30-year-old has been released by Tamil Nadu and is expected to join Kerala shortly.Aparajith, who has amassed 4571 runs in 90 First Class matches, including 11 centuries, was not selected for the Tamil Nadu Ranji team last season. However, he has maintained his form, scoring a 54-ball 72 for Chepauk Super Gillies in the TNPL eliminator.Kerala's batting lineup, which features strokemakers like Sanju Samson and Rohan Kunnummal, is expected to benefit from Aparajith's experience and technique. His off-spin bowling skills could also prove valuable.Aparajith's move to Kerala is seen as a positive step for the team, which has struggled in recent Ranji Trophy seasons. His experience and leadership qualities could help guide Kerala to better performances.The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has confirmed Aparajith's release, with a senior official stating that he approached them about his desire to move to Kerala. The TNCA has no objections and will provide him with a No Objection Certificate (NOC).Aparajith's move to Kerala is a testament to his determination to continue playing at the highest level. He will be hoping to make a significant contribution to Kerala's cricket and help them achieve success in the upcoming season.

Sanju Samson's journey to stardom began on a drizzly evening in 2008, when he witnessed Brendon McCullum's blistering knock in the inaugural IPL match. Inspired by the spectacle, the 14-year-old from Kottayam, Kerala, abandoned his dream of becoming a civil servant and set his sights on cricket.Driven by unwavering determination, Sanju honed his skills at the Medical College ground in Thiruvananthapuram, rain or shine. His early mentor, Biju George, witnessed his unwavering resolve, even when he cycled 25 kilometers from his home to practice in heavy rain.Sanju's father, Viswanath, a former football player, played a pivotal role in his son's aspirations. He arranged nets with the Delhi Police team, where Sanju faced off against older and more experienced cricketers.Despite his success, Sanju has remained grounded, a trait that has endeared him to the people of Kerala. He maintains close ties with his childhood friends and frequents local shops in his hometown."Malayalees appreciate humility," said George. "Sanju has retained that 'Nammude Sanju' (our Sanju) image, which connects him with the state."On the field, Sanju is a respected figure among his teammates. "Sanju chettan (elder brother) is always approachable," said Kerala opener Rohan Kunnummel. "He's passionate about state cricket and wants Kerala to win trophies."Sanju's influence extends beyond the cricket field. He has become a role model for aspiring young cricketers in Kerala, inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

Kerala's Abijith Praveen Joins Elite Club with Six Sixes in an OverIn a remarkable display of power hitting, Kerala's Abijith Praveen has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the latest batsman to smash six sixes in an over. The feat, achieved during the semifinal of the Navio Youth Trophy U-22 Cricket Tournament, follows a similar accomplishment by Andhra opener Vamshhi Krrishna just a week earlier.Playing for Masters CC, Thiruvananthapuram, Abijith faced leg-spinner Joe Francis from Trident Cricket Academy, Thrissur, in the 21st over of the match. With the score already at 69, Abijith unleashed a barrage of sixes that cleared the boundary with ease. The first two balls sailed over long-off, while the third soared over deep mid-wicket. The fourth and fifth deliveries were deposited over cow corner and long-on, respectively, as Abijith raced to 105 by the end of the over.However, Abijith's pursuit of another six proved costly as he was caught at long-on by Abhiram off the bowling of Akshay TK. His innings of 106 came from just 52 balls and featured 10 sixes and two fours. Masters CC went on to win the match by 106 runs.A native of Pachalloor in Thiruvananthapuram, Abijith expressed his elation at reaching his century with a six. "I have hit five sixes in an over before, but to hit six maximums is a dream come true," he said. "After I connected the first two, I felt I should go for it. Luckily, I timed each shot perfectly. I still get goosebumps when I think of the moment."Abijith, who cites Ab de Villiers and Hardik Pandya as his role models, is an allrounder who bowls medium pace. He made his List A debut for Kerala last December against Sikkim in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament, claiming three wickets but not getting an opportunity to bat.Biju George, fielding coach of Delhi Capitals, under whom Abijith trains at the SAI Medical College ground in Thiruvananthapuram, praised his ward's remarkable achievement. "He has strong hands, and his shots go a long distance," George said. "His six-hitting technique is simple but mighty effective. I knew Abi could pull off something like this, and I am happy for him. I hope someone recognizes his power hitting and gives him a much bigger platform to showcase his talent in the coming days."

Basil Thampi, the Kerala fast bowler, has rediscovered his mojo this season, emerging as a potent force with the new ball and leading his team to several crucial victories. After struggling in the past two seasons following the departure of his long-time bowling partner Sandeep Warrier, Thampi has undergone a remarkable transformation, fueled by improved fitness and a revamped bowling action.During the off-season, Thampi spent three months at the MRF Pace Academy, working with coach Senthilnathan to enhance his strength and refine his bowling technique. The focus was on increasing his release point, transitioning from a side-arm delivery to a straighter trajectory. This adjustment has yielded positive results, as Thampi has found greater accuracy and consistency in his bowling.The results of Thampi's hard work were evident in the recent domestic season, where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy, claiming 24 wickets at an average of 24.20. He played a pivotal role in Kerala's victory over Bengal, delivering a match-winning spell, and nearly guided his team to victory against Andhra with an incisive spell with the old ball after tea.Thampi's resurgence has been a major boost for Kerala, providing the team with a reliable and effective new-ball bowler. His ability to bowl long spells, maintain a fine rhythm, and create early breakthroughs on flat wickets has been instrumental in Kerala's success this season.Reflecting on his improved performance, Thampi attributed his success to enhanced fitness and a change in his bowling action. He acknowledged the impact of his absence from Warrier, but emphasized that his focus on fitness and technical adjustments have been key to his resurgence.Thampi also expressed satisfaction with his overall performance, highlighting his five-wicket haul against Assam and his impressive spell against Mumbai, where he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane in the opening over. He credited his teammates M.D. Nidheesh, N.P. Basil, and Akhin Sathar for maintaining pressure from the other end.While Kerala narrowly missed out on qualification for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, Thampi remained optimistic about the team's progress. He acknowledged that luck was not on their side in certain matches, but expressed confidence that with improved toss luck, the outcome could have been different.