Ranji Trophy preview: Kerala hopes to replicate performance from previous clash with MP even as it eyes a reversal of fortunes
Kerala will be looking to close out the opening leg of its Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign on an upbeat note, but it faces a tough challenge in Madhya Pradesh, brimming with confidence as it visits the Holkar Stadium in Indore for an Elite Group-B match beginning on Sunday.
MP sits atop Group B with 15 points and comes into this clash fresh off a thrilling three-wicket victory over Goa despite ceding a first-innings lead of over 100. All-rounder Saransh Jain was the star of that encounter, seeing his side home with an unbeaten 82 to complement a first-innings 48 and six wickets to boot.
MP goes into this match with a settled squad—with different batters putting their hand up on different occasions despite the absences of Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer, both of whom will miss this match as well.
Kerala, meanwhile, sits second from bottom in the group with just five points. It found itself staring at defeat again on the final day of its last match against Saurashtra but will take heart in the way that Varun Nayanar (who raised his maiden First-Class fifty) and Abhishek P. Nair batted it to safety (albeit with some fortune), as well as M.D. Nidheesh’s opening spell that helped it secure a first-innings lead.
It has added a few new faces to its squad ahead of this encounter, with Abiijith Praveen and Abhishek J. Nair among those who could make Ranji Trophy debuts, while Vaishak Chandran could also be in line for a return. Akarsh A.K., who suffered a nasty injury on First-Class debut against Saurashtra, misses out, as does N.P. Basil.
The two matches in Indore this season have both ended in draws, with the wicket being fairly conducive to run-scoring. MP batters will be looking to pile on the runs again, while Kerala will hope that it is an ideal surface for its young batting lineup to build on some of the promise it showed in the last match.
If the last meeting between these two sides is anything to go by, the Holkar Stadium could be in for another thriller over the next four days. Kerala dramatically snuck away with a final-day draw at Greenfield International Stadium on that occasion, and fans will be hoping to see a similarly competitive encounter this time around.
Published on Nov 15, 2025
