Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Kerala pacers Nidheesh, Abhijith, Eden put MP under pressure on Day 2
Kerala’s seamers produced a disciplined display to put it in a promising position in its Elite Group B clash against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Monday.
The visitor’s pace trio of M.D. Nidheesh (two for 39), Abhijith Praveen V. (one for 12), and Eden Apple Tom (two for 40) came to the fore, maintaining immaculate line and length for large parts of the day to choke the MP batters. Their display was also backed up by a sharp display in the field.
Abhijith was first to strike, bowling Yash Dubey (0) on the stroke of lunch with a nip-backer after the opener shouldered arms.
Post the resumption, the triumvirate produced a display of frugal bowling to Harsh Gawli (21) and Himanshu Mantri (21), minimising loose deliveries and keeping the stumps in play. Neither batter was able to find much rhythm, as the first boundary off the bat came 17 overs into the MP innings.
That accuracy was rewarded by the wicket of Gawli, who was trapped in front by a ball delivered from wide of the crease by Nidheesh.
Ranji Trophy Round 5, Day 2 | As it happened
Eden then tilted the game in Kerala’s favour with a double-strike just before tea. His first wicket came with some fortune, as the umpire adjudged Shubham Sharma (10) leg before despite an inside-edge, and he followed it up by dismissing Harpreet Singh Bhatia (0) – who played around a straight one – for a golden duck.
Nidheesh solidified his side’s dominance by pinning Mantri dead in front of two balls after the resumption. Rishabh Chouhan (21) played a few nice strokes, but had to return to the dressing room courtesy of an outstanding reflex catch from Ahammed Imran at short leg off Baba Aparajith.
That MP remains fighting can be credited to Saransh Jain (41 batting) and Aryan Pandey (33 batting), who put on a fifty stand as the sun went down. Saransh played a few particularly eye-catching shots, batting calmly and showing positive intent against both pace and spin.
Earlier in the day, Aparajith (98) was unable to convert his impressive knock to a ton. The veteran batted patiently with Edhen (9 not out) after the early departure of Sreehari, but sliced a Kuldeep Sen half-volley to gully two runs shy of his first century of the season.
Eden showed impressive application to stick around for 67 balls, and remained not out as Aryan earned a well-deserved first wicket by castling Nidheesh (7) to end Kerala’s first chapter on 281.
Scores
Kerala – 1st innings: Abhishek J. Nair c Mantri b Arshad Khan 47, Rohan Kunnummal c Harpreet b Kumar Kartikeya 0, Ankit Sharma lbw Saransh 20, Sachin Baby b Saransh 0, Baba Aparajith c Dubey b Kuldeep 98, Mohamed Azharuddeen c Mantri b Arshad Khan 14, Ahammed Imran c Mantri b Arshad Khan 5, Abhijith Praveen V. b Saransh 60, Sreehari Nair b Arshad Khan 7, Edhen Apple Tom (not out) 9, M.D. Nidheesh b Aryan 7; Extras: (b-6, lb-6, w-2): 14; Total (in 114.4 overs): 281.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-54, 3-60, 4-78, 5-97, 6-105, 7-227, 8-251, 9-267, 10-281.
Madhya Pradesh bowling: Aryan 28.4-12-56-1, Kumar Kartikeya 30-8-61-1, Saransh 20-5-40-3, Kuldeep 15-2-56-1, Arshad Khan 20-2-54-4, Shubham 1-0-2-0.
Madhya Pradesh – 1st innings: Harsh Gawli lbw Nidheesh 21, Yash Dubey b Abhijith 0, Himanshu Mantri lbw Nidheesh 21, Shubham Sharma lbw Edhen 10, Harpreet Singh Bhatia lbw Edhen 0, Rishabh Chouhan c Imran b Aparajith 21, Saransh Jain (batting) 41, Aryan Pandey (batting) 33; Extras: (b-5, lb-3): 8; Total (for six wickets in 61 overs): 155.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-43, 3-60, 4-60, 5-73, 6-101.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 16-2-39-2, Abhijith 9-2-12-1, Edhen 11-0-40-2, Sreehari 15-2-43-0, Aparajith 7-3-10-1, Ankit Sharma 3-0-3-0.
Toss: Madhya Pradesh
Published on Nov 17, 2025
