Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals: Kerala’s Nidhish Dazzles with 5 Wickets, J&K Struggle at 228/8
Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals : Kerala put up an impressive bowling performance on Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Pune, keeping Jammu & Kashmir to 228/8 on the first day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals. Fast bowler MD Nidhish stole the spotlight with a five-wicket haul, marking his second in just three matches. Meanwhile, Gujarat had a steady start to their first innings, reaching 21/0 by the end of the day.
MD Nidhish’s Early Strikes Set the Tone – Even though Kerala was without their star batter Sanju Samson, they dominated the day’s play. Samson was ruled out due to a fractured index finger, an injury he sustained while batting in the 5th T20I against England. Opting to bowl first, Kerala made an immediate impact, thanks to Nidhish’s fiery spell. He backed his captain Sachin Baby’s decision to bowl first by picking up quick wickets. His triple breakthrough left J&K struggling at 48/3. A 55-run stand between Kanhaiya Wadhawan (48) and Sahil Lothra (35) brought some stability, but Nidhish once again came to Kerala’s rescue, dismissing both set batters to complete his 5/56. A fighting 44-run knock from Nasir Lone helped J&K push past 200, and by stumps, Yudhvir Singh (17) and Aqib Nabi (5) were at the crease.
Nidhish was Kerala’s standout performer, taking key wickets including Shubham Khajuria, Yawar Hassan, Vivrant Sharma, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, and Nasir Lone. He was well-supported by Basil Thampi, left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate, and Nedumankuzhi Basil, who chipped in with a wicket each.
Gujarat’s Bowlers Put Saurashtra on the Back Foot in Rajkot – Over in Rajkot, Gujarat’s Chintan Gaja (4/48) led a disciplined bowling attack, while Jaymeet Patel and Siddharth Desai helped dismiss Saurashtra for 216 in 72.1 overs. Captain Chirag Jani (69 off 148 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) was the only batter who looked solid for Saurashtra, while Indian Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara (26 off 38 balls) made a brief but important contribution. The duo had a steady second-wicket partnership, but after Pujara fell to Siddharth Desai (2/35), wickets tumbled quickly.
Jani became Chintan Gaja’s first victim, and despite Arpit Vasavada’s gritty 39 off 79 balls, Gujarat kept chipping away at the wickets from the other end. With an exciting start to the quarterfinals, the focus now shifts to Day 2. Will Kerala’s batsmen build a strong lead? Or can J&K stage a comeback? Stay tuned for more updates!
