Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Nideesh sets up Kerala’s consolation win over Goa
The Goan batting unit crumbled under pressure on the final day as Kerala romped to a nine-wicket win in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 group-stage match at the Goa Cricket Association Ground in Porvorim on Sunday.
Pacer Nidheesh MD’s five-wicket haul was the cornerstone of Kerala’s incisive bowling performance as it bundled out Goa for just 199 in the second innings. The 34-year-old bowled with a menacing intensity throughout the day to claim his ninth First-Class fifer.
Goa managed to avoid an innings defeat only thanks to a resolute fifty from Darshan Misal and the 60-run stand he put up with Arjun Tendulkar for the ninth wicket.
Kerala polished off the 29-run target inside six overs as it wound up its disappointing domestic season on a winning note.
Ranji Trophy Round 7, Day 4 – As it happened
Kerala’s route to triumph was charted by a four-wicket burst by Nidheesh and Basil NP early in the day. The new-ball duo bowled full and straight with a hint of seam movement to dismantle the Goan top order in a 45-minute window.
Opener Suyash Prabhudesaai was the first to depart as he was strangled down the leg side by Nidheesh off the first ball of the day. Kashyap Bakhale soon followed his opening partner, after Nidheesh nipped one in to castle him.
Goan skipper Snehal Kauthankar, too, was bowled, after an ill-advised leave against an inswinger from Basil. No. 3 batter Abhinav Tejrana looked steady out in the middle until he tucked a length ball from Nidheesh straight into the hands of Imran at short leg.
The Goan middle-order resisted briefly, but were dislodged by Kerala spinners Ankit Sharma and Imran, who claimed three quick wickets before Lunch.
The counterpunch from Misal and Tendulkar failed to break Kerala’s dominance as a returning Nidheesh wiped off the Goan tail to seal his fifer and the win.
The scores
Goa — 1st innings: 355
Kerala — 1st innings: 526 decl.
Goa — 2nd innings: Suyash Prabhudessai c Krishna b Nidheesh 14, Kashyap Bakhale b Nidheesh 15, Abhinav Tejrana c Imran b Nidheesh 17, Snehal Kauthankar b Basil 0, Lalit Yadav st Krishna b Ankit 27, Amulya Pandrekar c Baby b Ankit 32, Yash Kasvankar b Imran 6, Darshan Misal c Abhishek b Nidheesh 55, Samar Dubhashi c Salman b Nidheesh 6, Arjun Tendulkar c Baby b Ankit 24, V Koushik (not out) 0; Extras: (nb-2, w-1): 3; Total (in 53.3 overs): 199
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 1-42, 3-42, 4-46, 5-90, 6-103, 7-116, 8-129, 9-189
Kerala bowling: Ankit 18-2-56-3, Sreehari 7-1-34-0, Nidheesh 13.3-2-47-5, Basil 7-0-37-1, Imran 6-1-21-1, Baby 1-1-0-0, Vinod 1-0-4-0
Kerala — 2nd innings: Abhishek Nair (not out) 19, Sachin Baby c Dubhashi b Koushik 1, Salman Nizar (not out) 9; Total (for one wkt. in 5.5 overs): 29
Fall of wickets: 1-7
Goa bowling: Koushik 3-1-3-1, Pandrekar 2.5-0-26-0
Result: Kerala won by nine wickets
Player of the match: Ankit Sharma
Published on Feb 01, 2026
