Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Arjun, Vohra and bowlers put Chandigarh in command against Kerala
Kerala is no stranger to batting collapses but this should rank as the worst of the season as the host lost eight wickets for 44 runs in 16 overs after lunch and was bundled out for 139 in the first innings.
Chandigarh probably enjoyed its best day of the season as it took a three-run lead, ending the opening day at 142 for one in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the KCA stadium on Thursday.
Opener Arjun Azad (78 batting, 99b, 10×4, 1×6) and captain Manan Vohra (51 batting, 87b, 7×4) counterattacked and forged an unbroken 117-run partnership for the second wicket to put the visitors in command.
Kerala also failed to grab its chances. Skipper Mohammed Azharuddeen missed a stumping as he failed to gather the ball when Sreehari Nair beat Manan Vohra’s forward push when the batter was on 11. Azad and Vohra punished the wayward bowling to score briskly to cap a poor day for the host.
Ranji Trophy Round 6, Day 1 – As it happened
The day began ominously for the host as opener Abhishek J. Nair (1) flicked left arm medium pacer Karthik Sandil straight to Vishu Kashyap at mid-on. A.K. Akarsh (14) never looked comfortable and was put out of his misery by an inducker from Rohit Dhanda.
But there was no signpost to the impending doom when Sachin Baby (41) and B. Aparajith (49) played steadily to add 58 runs for the third wicket.
However, Rohit Dhanda’s spell after lunch turned the contest on its head. Baby played across to Rohit and was trapped in front by a ball that kept a tad low. Vishnu Vinod’s comeback lasted just five balls with Rohit bluffing the batter with an inswinger after a dose of outswingers.
Left arm spinner Nishunk Birla extracted bounce and turn and had Aparajith feathering a catch to wicketkeeper Arjit Singh. After skipper Mohammed Azharuddeen (4) fell cheaply to Jagit Singh, Birla dismissed Ankit Sharma (1) and Sreehari (0) off successive balls to leave Kerala tottering at 123 for eight.
Salman Nizar was left stranded on 13 as Eden Apple Tom (0) and M.D. Nidheesh (1) failed to support him. Nishunk Birla (four for 40) was the standout bowler for Chandigarh.
The scores
Kerala – 1st innings: A.K.Akarsh b Rohit 14, Abhishek J.Nair c Vishu b Karthik 1, Sachin Baby lbw b Rohit 41, B.Aparajith c Arjit b Birla 49, Vishnu Vinod lbw b Rohit 0, Salman Nizar not out 13, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Arjit b Jagit 4, Ankit Sharma b Birla 1, Sreehari S.Nair lbw b Birla 0, Eden Apple Tom b Jagit 0, M.D.Nidheesh c Bhambri b Birla 1; Extras (nb-3, w-1, b-5, lb-6): 15; Total (in 56 overs): 139.
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-37, 3-95, 4-95, 5-117, 6-122,7-123, 8-123, 9-134.
Chandigarh bowling: Jagit 10-3-17-2, Karthik 6-1-20-1, Vishu 11-3-24-0, Rohit 12-4-27-3, Birla 17-7-40-4.
Chandigarh – 1st innings: Nikhil Thakur c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 11, Arjun Azad (batting) 78, Manan Vohra (batting) 51; Extras (nb-2): 2; Total (for one wkt. in 34 overs): 142.
Fall of wickets: 1-25.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 7-0-28-1, Aparajith 2-0-10-0, Sreehari S.Nair 9-1-39-0, Ankit Sharma 11-1-36-0, Eden 5-0-29-0.
Published on Jan 22, 2026
