Ranji Trophy 2024: Gujarat's dramatic turnaround agonizes Karnataka

In a captivating encounter in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024, Gujarat registered a dramatic six-run win over Karnataka in the first session of the final day at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on January 15. The win allowed the Chintan Gaja-led side to climb to the top spot of Elite Group C of the competition.

While chasing a seemingly achievable target of 110, everything went in favour of Karnataka as they were 50 without losing a wicket but lost 10 wickets for 53 runs. Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal built a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. The Karnataka captain was dismissed for 19 while Padikkal was sent back on 31. However, Siddharth Desai's lethal attack crushed the opposition's supremacy which saw their wickets falling like a pack of cards, and were eventually bundled out for 103 runs. 

Desai produced a mind-boggling spell of 7 for 42, permitting Gujarat to hand a surprise defeat to Mayank Agarwal's men. Right-arm spinner Rinkesh Vaghela, on the other hand, contributed with a three-wicket haul, conceding just 38 runs. Prasidh Krishna was the last one to get out as he was clean-bowled by Vaghela.

In the opening innings, Gujarat were bundled out for 264 after being put to bat first. Kshitij Patel and Umang Kumar achieved good results, scoring 95 and 72 runs, respectively. Meanwhile, right-arm pacer V Koushik picked up four wickets for 49. Meanwhile, Agarwal's century, Ravikumar Samarth and Manish Pandey's (88) crucial half-centuries commanded Karnataka to score 374 runs and took a reasonable lead. 

Agarwal, who was cheaply dismissed in both innings of Karnataka's first game, staged a powerful comeback with a 109-run knock and stitched a 172-run opening partnership with Samarth, who has also scored a gritty 60 runs. Gujarat captain Gaja starred with the ball, claiming a three-wicket haul, with his first wicket being of centurion Agarwal. 

Gujarat, who started their second innings trailing by 110 runs, could score only 219 despite handy fifties from Manan Hingrajia (56) and Umang Kumar (57). Koushik excelled with the ball this time as well and finished with a staggering spell of 3/16 in 15 overs. Rohit Kumar also played a pivotal role, claiming another three-wicket haul during the action-packed game.