Ranji Trophy: Karnataka takes on strong challenger Saurashtra

Karnataka will face its second stern test of this season when it takes on Saurashtra in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B match at the Alur Grounds near here from Sunday.

Since Karnataka last won the Ranji title in 2014-15, Saurashtra has been champion twice and runner-up two times. It has also been the Southern powerhouse’s bugbear — Karnataka hasn’t beaten Saurashtra in a Ranji encounter since 2009, eight long contests ago.

In its quest to set right this record, the home side will be led by Shreyas Gopal, who was handed the top job after R. Smaran left to join India-A for the tour of New Zealand.

In Karnataka’s second-place finish last edition, Shreyas had his best campaign with the ball (48 wickets) and scored 469 valuable runs. The 33-year-old leggie didn’t play against Andhra last week because of dehydration, and versus Saurashtra, he will be desperate to show his worth.

The return of pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and V. Vyshak will be of big help. But Karnataka will have to cover for K.L. Rahul’s experience and Smaran’s runs (126 and 21 at Mulapadu).

Karun Nair is in rich form (8 and 155 n.o. vs. Andhra), but much will be expected from veteran Mayank Agarwal (5 and 18) and 25-year-old K.V. Aneesh (0 and 6). Karnataka will also pray that rain stays away.

Like the host, Saurashtra is also coming in following a draw, but it has three points to Karnataka’s one. However, despite its rich recent history in the tournament, the West India outfit has not progressed beyond quarterfinals in the last three seasons.

India left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who made a century (102) and took three wickets against Chhattisgarh in the opener, will miss the fixture.

“Whenever Ravindra comes in, he makes the side stronger, certainly” captain Jaydev Unadkat told The Hindu. “But he has played only a handful of games for us in the past six to seven seasons. We have a balanced squad and playing against Karnataka always gives us extra motivation”.