Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Mayank Agarwal century anchors Karnataka’s draw against Maharashtra
If the penultimate day had the drama of a Bollywood thriller, the finale fizzled out in contrast. Karnataka, choosing safety over risk, batted through the final day to draw its Ranji Trophy Group B match against Maharashtra at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday. Mayank Agarwal’s century and Abhinav Manohar’s near-miss were the only bright spots in an otherwise subdued finish.
Agarwal’s composed 103 (249b, 8×4, 1×6) and Abhinav’s fluent 96 (161b, 11×4, 2×6) powered a 92-run partnership that ensured Karnataka’s slender 13-run first-innings lead remained decisive. When the sides shook hands for early tea, Karnataka had reached 302 for eight, settling for three points while Maharashtra took one.
Resuming on 144 for five, Karnataka appeared vulnerable, and Maharashtra sensed a window to force a result. But Agarwal and Abhinav doused those hopes with patience and precision. Against spinners Jalaj Saxena and Vicky Ostwal, they dug in on a slow surface that offered little to bowlers.
Agarwal survived an early leg-before appeal, and wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale fluffed a stumping chance off Abhinav — two moments that turned the morning session Karnataka’s way. Once Agarwal reached his 19th First-Class hundred before missing a flick off off-spinner Siddhesh Veer, Maharashtra’s chances effectively vanished.
As Karnataka showed no urgency to push the scoring, the game drifted. Abhinav briefly shifted gears, hitting three boundaries off Rajneesh Gurbani, but fell four short of a century when he offered Ostwal a return catch attempting to go aerial.
With the visitor firmly in control, Maharashtra eased off, resting Mukesh Choudhary, who did not bowl on the final day. In the end, Karnataka’s cautious approach was vindicated.
The score:
Karnataka – 1st innings: 313
Maharashtra – 1st innings: 300
Karnataka – 2nd innings: Aneesh K.V. c Arshin b Ostwal 17, Mayank
Agarwal b Veer 103, K.L. Shrijith b Choudhary 29, Karun Nair c Ghosh b
Choudhary 15, R. Smaran lbw b Choudhary 4, Abhilash Shetty lbw b
Saxena 4, Abhinav Manohar c & b Ostwal 96, Shreyas Gopal (not out) 24,
Venkatesh M. c Nawale b Gurbani 4, Mohsin Khan (not out) 0.
Extras (b-9, lb-2, nb-1, w-1): 13
Total (for eight wickets in 110 overs): 309.
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-98, 3-131, 4-135, 5-144, 6-236, 7-302, 8-309.
Maharashtra bowling: Choudhary 18-2-70-3, Ghosh 11-1-32-0, Saxena
31-3-84-1, Ostwal 33-16-49-2, Gurbani 8-0-34-1, Veer 9-2-29-1.
Result: Match drawn.
Player of the Match: Shreyas Gopal
Published on Nov 11, 2025
