India’s KL Rahul scored his 24th first-class century, guiding Karnataka to a remarkable four-wicket win against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 quarterfinal at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, BKC. Chasing 325 runs in the fourth innings, Karnataka faced a tough challenge after losing opener Mayank Agarwal early to captain Shardul Thakur.
Devdutt Padikkal, batting at number three, partnered with KL Rahul to build an 84-run stand, with Rahul showcasing excellent form. Padikkal fell in the 20th over to Tanush Kotiyan, but Rahul continued to anchor the innings. Karun Nair contributed 23 runs before his dismissal in the 31st over.
Following Karun’s exit, Rahul and Smaran Ravichandran combined for a crucial 147-run partnership, steering Karnataka towards victory. Rahul reached his century in 147 balls, amassing 130 runs off 182 deliveries before being dismissed by Tushar Deshpande. His innings included fourteen fours and one six.
Smaran, unbeaten on 83, along with Vidyadhar Patil, sealed the win for Karnataka with four wickets in hand. Earlier, Mumbai’s first innings ended at 120 runs, with Karnataka’s Prasidh Krishna and Vidweth Kaverappa excelling. Karnataka secured a 53-run lead, with Mayank Agarwal’s 92-run contribution.
Mumbai fought back strongly in the second innings, setting a target of 325 runs with notable performances from Akash Anand and Musheer Khan. With this victory, Karnataka advances to the semifinals, where they will face Uttarakhand, marking the latter’s first semifinal appearance in Ranji Trophy history.
