Karnataka started steadily in reply to Jammu and Kashmir’s high first-innings score, reaching 35/1 at Lunch on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy Final. Skipper Mayank Agarwal is unbeaten on 16, while Devdutt Padikkal is on 4. Jammu and Kashmir’s bowlers, Auqib Nabi Dar and Sunil Kumar, maintained pressure with disciplined bowling early on.
Both teams’ openers faced a tight spell, with runs hard to come by as Auqib bowled consecutive maidens. Despite the pressure, KL Rahul managed to hit a couple of boundaries off Sunil Kumar. However, Auqib got the breakthrough by dismissing Rahul, reducing Karnataka to 27/1.
Padikkal and Agarwal steadied the innings with some boundaries after Rahul’s dismissal. Yudhvir Singh Charak bowled well but remained wicketless. Karnataka showed patience against Jammu & Kashmir’s attack, reaching 35 runs before Lunch on Day 3.
Karnataka’s Prasidh Krishna shone with a five-wicket haul as Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 584. Jammu and Kashmir’s lower order aimed to extend their lead, with Sahil Lotra and Abid Mushtaq forming a solid partnership. Prasidh’s persistence paid off as he dismissed key batsmen, including Lotra for 72.
Facing a significant deficit, Karnataka faces a tough challenge in their first innings with Jammu and Kashmir holding the upper hand.
