Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Chirag Jani’s blistering century puts Saurashtra in control against Kerala on Day 3
Chirag Jani’s first century in five years couldn’t have come at a better time, as it gave Saurashtra a big chance to force a win against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B match at the KCA ground, Mangalapuram in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
Jani’s eighth First-Class hundred (152, 204b, 14×4, 4×6) carried the away side from a sticky 69 for three to a commanding 351 for five, with an overall lead of 278 runs, at Stumps on the penultimate day.
In the morning, there was help for the Kerala pacers, and they hit the right areas to trouble the batters. M.D. Nidheesh trapped Jay Gohil (24) in front in the second over of the day. However, Eden Apple Tom could only cry in anguish as A.K. Akarsh, in the second slip, dropped Sammar Gajjar (on 23) and Arpit Vasavada (on 7) in the same over.
Sammar didn’t last long, but Vasavada’s drop hurt Kerala as the left-hander dropped anchor to add 174 runs for the fourth wicket with Jani.
Jani played a counter-attacking knock, which took the wind out of Kerala’s sails. As the conditions became more batter-friendly, Jani dominated the Kerala bowlers, carting them to all parts of the field. He hit Ankit Sharma out of the attack and played the pacers with confidence. Jani pulled Nidheesh over midwicket for a six and lifted Ankit over mid-on for a boundary to reach his 100, which came off 149 balls. Baba Aparajith broke the stand, forcing Vasavada (74) to edge a catch to wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen.
However, Prerak Mankad joined Jani to forge a quick 105-run stand for the fifth wicket, which put Kerala under pressure. Sachin Baby dropped a simple chance at second slip to give Mankad a life after the batter had completed his fifty. Jani was bowled trying a cross-batted swipe against N.P. Basil but bad light thwarted Saurashtra’s hopes of adding some quick runs in the final session.
SCORECARD
Saurashtra — 1st innings: 160.
Kerala — 1st innings: 233.
Saurashtra — 2nd innings: Harvik Desai c Kunnummal b Nidheesh 5, Gajjar Sammar b Basil 31, Jay Gohil lbw b Nidheesh 24, Arpit Vasavada c Azharuddeen b Aparajith 74, Chirag Jani b Basil 152, Prerak Mankad (batting) 52, Ansh Gosai (batting) 1; Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-2, w-3): 12; Total (for five wkts. in 90 overs): 351.
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-50, 3-69, 4-243, 5-348.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 19-2-61-2, Basil 15-3-46-2, Eden 15-2-47-0, Aparajith 20-1-73-1, Ankit 18-1-101-0, Imran 3-0-17-0.
Published on Nov 10, 2025
