KL Rahul's steady fifty vs Mumbai takes Karnataka closer to Ranji Trophy semi-final

KL Rahul scored a fifty vs Mumbai in Ranji Trophy QF [Source: BCCDomestic]

The Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season is inching closer to getting its final four, with the quarter-finals being played around the country. Notably, Karnataka is playing against the most successful team in the tournament, Mumbai, at the BKC Ground.

The battle between the two giants looks well poised heading into Day 4 of the match, with the visitors requiring 212 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand. Standing between Mumbai's win is the India star KL Rahul, who rocked up for his state after the national team shifted its focus to T20I cricket at the World Cup and scored a crucial fourth innings fifty by Stumps Day 3.

KL Rahul's fifty keeps Karnataka's semi-final dream on

Late on Day 3 of the heavyweight encounter in Mumbai, the visitors bundled the hosts for 377 runs in the 3rd innings and were asked to chase down 324 runs. With ample time left in the match, Karnataka found themselves well in the game; however, senior opener Mayank Agarwal fell cheaply for 3 off 6 to Shardul Thakur after he had scored a 92 (134) in the first innings.

Close to a full session was still left on the day as captain Devdutt Padikkal joined KL Rahul in the middle. Coming into the match with high expectations after a successful Test season and a fifty against Punjab, Rahul took the onus and stuck to one end.

While surviving the crucial final session of the day, he kept the scoreboard ticking, getting to a 55-ball-fifty in style with a four off Tushar Deshpande. He added 84 runs for the second wicket with Padikkal, who was dismissed for 39 (52), with 9 overs still left on the day. Rahul and Karun Nair ended the day cautiously, just adding another 17 runs in 8.5 overs.

Karnataka eyes early finish to QF amid Mumbai fightback

Playing away from home, Karnataka were all over Mumbai right from the first session of the FC game, bowling them out for just 120 runs in 48.1 overs. Despite Akhil Herwadkar's fighting 60 (138), the giants from the West Zone kept losing wickets at crucial intervals. Vidwath Kaverappa, Prasidh Krishna and leggie Shreyas Gopal all picked 3 wickets each.

Mayank Agarwal, who was recently replaced as the captain, scored a valiant 92 in 134 as a lone warrior to help his team get a 53-run first innings lead, as they got bundled for 173 as well. Mohit Avasthi and Tushar Deshpande picked 4 wickets each in Mumbai's fightback.

The fightback was continued by contributions from all batters, especially by Akash Anand's 70(169), as they scored 377 runs in the third innings to give themselves a chance. Shikhar Shetty was the pick of the bowlers with 3/45 from his left-arm orthodox.

At the end of Day 3, Rahul remains unbeaten at 60 off 94 with 7 well-controlled fours. Nair, on the other end, is 9* (22) with 212 runs required. Notably, unlike the rest of the season, where matches are played across 4 days, the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final of the Ranji Trophy are a five-day affair.

Karnataka's Ranji Trophy title drought at the brink of an end?

It is worthy to note that Karnataka are among the traditional giants in Ranji Trophy history and is only behind Mumbai's 42 titles as the second most successful team.

Previously known as Mysore, Karnataka have won 8 Ranji titles and finished as runner-ups in 6 finals. Their last trophy came back in 2015, when they got the better of Tamil Nadu in the 2014/15 final. It was their second consecutive title, and the likes of Rahul, Agarwal and Nair were a part of it as well.

With the defending champions Vidarbha out and a chance to knock out another big team in Mumbai, Karnataka would be eyeing another trophy after a 11 year wait, especially with India stars included in the squad.