With two key absences within the batting line-up, Nikin Jose’s return to type within the earlier spherical will be essential for Karnataka.
| Photo Credit: Ok. BHAGYA PRAKASH
After two below-par performances in opposition to Gujarat and Goa, Karnataka will search for an announcement win in opposition to Tripura within the Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter on the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium right here beginning Friday.
Following a rousing win in opposition to Punjab, Karnataka has collected simply three factors from two matches. In a difficult group with greater than two quarterfinal contenders, it may well ill-afford one other underwhelming effort.
The eight-time champion will have to do with a diminished batting line-up, vice-captain Nikin Jose’s return to type however. Devdutt Padikkal, who has scored 369 runs this season with two centuries, is away on India-An obligation, whereas Manish Pandey will miss the tie due to a palm harm.
Opener R. Samarth has recovered from a bout of viral fever, however with there being considerations about D. Nischal’s health — palm harm — the group administration might hand a debut to 22-year-old right-hand batter Ok.V. Aneesh.
It stays to be seen if 17-year-old all-rounder Hardik Raj, introduced into the squad as a like-for-like alternative for the left-handed Shubhang Hegde, is given his first cap as nicely.
If there may be one space the place Karnataka is totally stocked, it’s in quick bowling. Vidwath Kaverappa rejoining the squad means it has a full battery of pacers, however with groups this version taking part in a match each 4 days, rotation could be on the playing cards.
But all of it relies upon on the climate. When Tamil Nadu performed right here earlier this month, simply 51 overs of play was doable due to heavy fog. Wriddhiman Saha’s Tripura, which began with a thumping win over Goa, then travelled to Mohali, solely to be thwarted again, with simply 45.5 overs bowled.
A group that secured the first-innings lead over Gujarat, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh final season, and beat the likes of Saurashtra and Mumbai within the Vijay Hazare Trophy this campaign certainly deserves its second below the solar.
