Ranji Trophy: Ritesh and Shikhar five-fors restrict Assam
Karnataka spinners took all 10 wickets as Assam were bowled out for 135 on day one.
Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty each took five wickets as Karnataka restricted Assam to 135 in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the ACA Stadium. Karnataka reached 180 for two in reply.
Key takeaways
- Ritesh Bhatkal took five for 35 and Shikhar Shetty took five for 53 for Karnataka.
- Assam were bowled out for 135 in 48.1 overs.
- Karnataka ended day one on 180 for two, 45 runs ahead.
- Rohan Patil made 89 and Mayank Agarwal was batting on 57.
Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty combined for all 10 wickets as Karnataka restricted Assam to 135 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B encounter at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Karnataka replied with 180 for two in 36 overs, ending the day 45 runs ahead. The Hindu reported that captain Shreyas Gopal introduced spin early after Assam won the toss and elected to bat.
Match details
1 overs. 1 overs. Kaverappa bowled three overs for nine runs without a wicket, Manvanth bowled six overs for 15 runs without a wicket, and Shreyas Gopal bowled four overs for 10 runs without a wicket.
Captain Denish Das scored 26 off 72 balls, and Sibsankar Roy scored 37 off 66 balls. The pair added 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Sibsankar was dismissed by Ritesh, and Ritesh removed Denish in the first over of the second session to complete his five-for.
Shikhar then cleaned up the tail to record his third five-wicket haul of the season.
Full dismissals included Nibir Deka for 12, Pradyun Saikia for 13, Sumit Ghadigaonkar for one, Sarupam Purkayastha for 13, Amlanjyoti Das for 12, Roshan Alam for seven, Mukhtar Hussain for naught, Mohit Thakur not out for naught, and Hridip Deka for naught. Extras contributed 13 runs.
Karnataka reply
Karnataka’s openers Rohan Patil and Mayank Agarwal put on 129 runs for the first wicket. Patil scored 89 off 87 balls with 13 fours and one six before missing his maiden First Class century when Sibsankar took a reflex catch at first slip off Amlanjyoti Das.
Agarwal remained unbeaten on 57 off 95 balls with seven fours. L. V. Aneesh was unbeaten on seven. Assam’s Mukhtar bowled three overs for 20 runs without taking a wicket. Karnataka’s total stood at 180 for two in 36 overs, giving them a 45-run lead.
Competition context
The match is part of the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy, the 92nd season of India’s premier first-class championship organised by the BCCI. The season runs from 11 October 2026 to 3 March 2027.
Jammu and Kashmir are the defending champions after defeating Karnataka in the previous final to win their maiden Ranji title.
The 2025–26 season was the 91st edition and took place from 15 October 2025 to 28 February 2026, with Vidarbha as the defending champions at the start of that campaign.
What happens next
Karnataka will resume their first innings on day two with Mayank Agarwal and K.V. Aneesh at the crease, seeking to extend their 45-run first-innings lead.
Assam first innings and Karnataka reply
Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
Assam | 135 | 48.1 |
Karnataka | 180 for two | 36 |
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