Kerala players willl look to round off a disappointing campaign with a win against an equally struggling Goa.
| Photo Credit: File photo: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The highs of the 2024-25 season now feel like a distant memory for Kerala’s Ranji Trophy team.
After a stunning run last time out, which culminated in a first-ever runner-up finish in the Ranji Trophy, Kerala has flattered to deceive this season.
With just eight points from six games, a winless Kerala currently sits at the bottom of Elite Group C.
Kerala will be keen to avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon, as it takes on Goa in the final round of Ranji Trophy 2025-26 group-stage fixtures.
A green top awaits the two sides at the Goa Cricket Association Ground here, enhancing the importance of the coin toss on Thursday.
Kerala’s downfall reached its nadir in the previous round, when it suffered a humbling innings defeat to Chandigarh at home, a result that killed its knockout aspirations.
Goa too is out of reckoning for a spot in the quarterfinals. With 11 points, Goa is fifth in the group and is also at risk of dropping to the bottom of the pile if it suffers a defeat to Kerala and other results go against its favour.
Goa kicked off this season with an impressive home win against Chandigarh. But things have gone awry since then, with the side losing its three previous fixtures.
A shining light of positivity for the home team has been the batting form of No. 3 batter Abhinav Tejrana.
Playing his maiden Ranji season, the left-hander is the second-highest run-scorer this campaign, racking up 770 runs at an eye-catching average of 85.55.
The 25-year-old Tejrana, who has already scored four hundreds, will look to close off the campaign with a solid performance against Kerala.
With qualification hopes dead and buried, both Kerala and Goa will have nothing much to play for except prestige.
Published – January 28, 2026 06:21 pm IST
