K.L. Rahul keeps Karnataka in the hunt against Mumbai for Ranji Trophy semifinal spot
On a warm Sunday afternoon at the MCA-BKC ground, K.L. Rahul came up with one of his grittiest innings to keep Karnataka in the hunt for a Ranji Trophy semifinal berth.
After Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande added 89 runs in 82 balls to guide Mumbai to 377 and set a 325-run target for Karnataka, Rahul (60 batting, 94b, 7×4) showed his brilliance with the bat, playing each ball on its merit.
With Mayank Agarwal having been caught in the deep by Mohit Avasthi off Shardul Thakur’s bowling early on, Rahul rebuilt with an 84-run partnership alongside captain Devdutt Padikkal to lead Karnataka’s fightback. As the surface eased out after initially helping the bowlers, Rahul largely played in the V to bring up his 42nd First Class fifty and put Karnataka on a firm footing.
Padikkal, who guided Karnataka to a come-from-behind win against Punjab in the last group match, looked on course to add another fifty to his tally but ended up offering a regulation catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal at first slip.
READ: Uttarakhand seals maiden Ranji Trophy semifinal spot with an innings win over Jharkhand
With Rahul and Karun Nair holding fort, Karnataka ended the day at 113 for 2, still 212 runs away from a victory. Additionally, with the surface having started to offer some turn, Mumbai spinners Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani have lots to play for.
Even though wicketkeeper-batter Akash Anand, who scored 70 in the second innings, indicated that the game is ‘evenly poised,’ Mumbai remains on top, the side hoping to make optimum use of the ‘known conditions’ on the fourth day.
Resuming the day at 189 for 2, Musheer Khan couldn’t extend his stay as he was caught behind by Kruthik Krishna in Vidyadhar Patil’s opening over. After Akash, too, missed out on a deserving century, Mumbai lost wickets in clusters before Kotian and Deshpande stepped up.
Even as Mumbai managed to secure a formidable lead, it was a memorable day for Karnataka stumper Kruthik, who made it to the record books with six catches and one stumping.
Published on Feb 08, 2026
