Ranji Trophy: Smaran, Shrijith step up for Karnataka against Andhra
toi
newspoint|12-10-2026
VIJAYAWADA: When stand-in skipper R Smaran walked out to bat, Karnataka were in disarray at 9/3. He briefly looked up at the blazing sun before making his way to the middle, where the early damage had left the visitors looking like a team caught in a storm.
For the next 328 minutes, the 23-year-old held his ground, batting with purpose, precision and impressive game awareness to craft a 218-ball 126 (11x4; 1x6). With KL Shrijith (58; 82b; 3x4; 3x6) for company, the left-hander hauled the former champions out of deep trouble against Andhra with a mature and chanceless innings.
At the ACA Stadium in Mulapadu, on the outskirts of Vijayawada, Karnataka, who opted to bat in their Ranji Trophy season opener on Sunday, recovered from a disastrous start to post 274 in 82.2 overs. The visitors, however, struck back before stumps, leaving Andhra precariously placed at 16/2 after five overs.
The venue, nestled in the foothills of the Kondapalli Reserve Forest range and surrounded by the Eastern Ghats, drew a sizable crowd despite the searing heat. Many had turned up to watch Karnataka’s star-studded batting lineup, but the early movement on offer left the top order struggling to find its feet.
Mayank Agarwal (5) was the first to go, losing his off stump to Kavuri Saiteja (2/20) after miscuing a short-of-good-length delivery. Karnataka needed to negotiate the first hour, but the batters appeared in a hurry. KV Aneesh fell the very next ball, poking at a delivery and offering Ricky Bhui a catch in the slips.
KL Rahul (4) was expected to steady the innings but edged KV Sasikanth (2/10) to wicketkeeper Revanth Reddy. Karun Nair followed, trapped in front by an inswinger from Sasikanth.
At 22/4, Karnataka were in serious trouble. Shrijith joined Smaran and the pair offered contrasting approaches. Shrijith took the attack to Andhra with reverse sweeps and pulls, while Smaran, who had opened his account with a crisp back-foot punch through point, focused on finding gaps and rotating the strike.
Their 111-run stand for the fifth wicket eased the pressure before left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar (3/69) broke the partnership. Shrijith, troubled by cramps, failed to read the sharp turn and was adjudged leg-before.
Smaran brought up his eighth first-class century with another back-foot punch for four, but his innings ended when a quicker delivery from Lalith Mohan (2/87) found the inside edge and sent the ball onto his stumps.
Earlier, three players earned their maiden Karnataka caps, with spinners Madhav Bajaj and Ritesh Bhatkal joined by pacer Manvanth Kumar. Bajaj, initially named a travelling reserve, was drafted into the 15-member squad after leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was ruled out with fever and dehydration. The youngster made the most of his opportunity, scoring a valuable 33 before claiming his maiden wicket by dismissing Tripurana Vijay.
Scoreboard
Karnataka (I innings): KL Rahul c Revnath b Sasikanth 4, Mayank Agarwal b Saiteja 5, KV Aneesh c Bhui b Saiteja 0, Karun Nair lbw Sasikanth 8, R Smaran b Lalith 126, KL Shrijith lbw Saurabh 58, Manvanth Kumar lbw Saurabh 13, Ritesh Bhatkal b Vijay 6, Madhav Bajaj b Lalith 33, Shikhar Shetty c Revanth b Saurabh 13, Abhilash Shetty (not out) 0. Extras (B-5; LB-2, NB-1) 8. Total (All out; 82.2 overs) 274.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-9, 4-22, 5-133, 6-165, 7-174, 8-233, 9-274.
Bowling: Kavuri Saiteja 8-3-20-2, KV Sasikanth 5-2-10-2, Tripurana Vijay 25-5-71-1, Lalith Mohan 22-1-87-2, Saurabh Kumar 19.2-1-69-3, Hemanth Reddy 3-0-10-0.
Andhra (I innings): Hemanth c Smaran b Shikhar 1, Abhishek Reddy (batting) 10, Vijay c Rahul b Bajaj 4, Shaik Rasheed (batting) 1. Extras: 0. Total (2 wkts; 5 overs) 16.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10.
Bowling: Abhilash Shetty 1-0-5-0, Shikhar 2-0-8-1, Madhav Bajaj 2-0-3-1
For the next 328 minutes, the 23-year-old held his ground, batting with purpose, precision and impressive game awareness to craft a 218-ball 126 (11x4; 1x6). With KL Shrijith (58; 82b; 3x4; 3x6) for company, the left-hander hauled the former champions out of deep trouble against Andhra with a mature and chanceless innings.
At the ACA Stadium in Mulapadu, on the outskirts of Vijayawada, Karnataka, who opted to bat in their Ranji Trophy season opener on Sunday, recovered from a disastrous start to post 274 in 82.2 overs. The visitors, however, struck back before stumps, leaving Andhra precariously placed at 16/2 after five overs.
The venue, nestled in the foothills of the Kondapalli Reserve Forest range and surrounded by the Eastern Ghats, drew a sizable crowd despite the searing heat. Many had turned up to watch Karnataka’s star-studded batting lineup, but the early movement on offer left the top order struggling to find its feet.
Mayank Agarwal (5) was the first to go, losing his off stump to Kavuri Saiteja (2/20) after miscuing a short-of-good-length delivery. Karnataka needed to negotiate the first hour, but the batters appeared in a hurry. KV Aneesh fell the very next ball, poking at a delivery and offering Ricky Bhui a catch in the slips.
KL Rahul (4) was expected to steady the innings but edged KV Sasikanth (2/10) to wicketkeeper Revanth Reddy. Karun Nair followed, trapped in front by an inswinger from Sasikanth.
At 22/4, Karnataka were in serious trouble. Shrijith joined Smaran and the pair offered contrasting approaches. Shrijith took the attack to Andhra with reverse sweeps and pulls, while Smaran, who had opened his account with a crisp back-foot punch through point, focused on finding gaps and rotating the strike.
Their 111-run stand for the fifth wicket eased the pressure before left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar (3/69) broke the partnership. Shrijith, troubled by cramps, failed to read the sharp turn and was adjudged leg-before.
Smaran brought up his eighth first-class century with another back-foot punch for four, but his innings ended when a quicker delivery from Lalith Mohan (2/87) found the inside edge and sent the ball onto his stumps.
Earlier, three players earned their maiden Karnataka caps, with spinners Madhav Bajaj and Ritesh Bhatkal joined by pacer Manvanth Kumar. Bajaj, initially named a travelling reserve, was drafted into the 15-member squad after leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was ruled out with fever and dehydration. The youngster made the most of his opportunity, scoring a valuable 33 before claiming his maiden wicket by dismissing Tripurana Vijay.
Scoreboard
Karnataka (I innings): KL Rahul c Revnath b Sasikanth 4, Mayank Agarwal b Saiteja 5, KV Aneesh c Bhui b Saiteja 0, Karun Nair lbw Sasikanth 8, R Smaran b Lalith 126, KL Shrijith lbw Saurabh 58, Manvanth Kumar lbw Saurabh 13, Ritesh Bhatkal b Vijay 6, Madhav Bajaj b Lalith 33, Shikhar Shetty c Revanth b Saurabh 13, Abhilash Shetty (not out) 0. Extras (B-5; LB-2, NB-1) 8. Total (All out; 82.2 overs) 274.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-9, 4-22, 5-133, 6-165, 7-174, 8-233, 9-274.
Bowling: Kavuri Saiteja 8-3-20-2, KV Sasikanth 5-2-10-2, Tripurana Vijay 25-5-71-1, Lalith Mohan 22-1-87-2, Saurabh Kumar 19.2-1-69-3, Hemanth Reddy 3-0-10-0.
Andhra (I innings): Hemanth c Smaran b Shikhar 1, Abhishek Reddy (batting) 10, Vijay c Rahul b Bajaj 4, Shaik Rasheed (batting) 1. Extras: 0. Total (2 wkts; 5 overs) 16.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10.
Bowling: Abhilash Shetty 1-0-5-0, Shikhar 2-0-8-1, Madhav Bajaj 2-0-3-1
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