Round two of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 began on Sunday with two Elite Group B sides in early trouble, and each was pulled back into its match by a batter who stayed at the crease.
Karnataka were struggling against Saurashtra at the Alur ground in Bengaluru, while Punjab were reduced to 69 for 3 against Chhattisgarh in New Chandigarh. Manvanth Kumar delivered the bigger surprise.
The 22-year-old left-hander was playing only his second first-class match, yet he walked in with Karnataka eight down and hit 135 from number nine. Uday Saharan, the Punjab captain, was steadier but just as important, as he finished the first day unbeaten on 106.
Both matches are scheduled to run until Tuesday, October 21, and both innings have already changed the shape of the games. Karnataka were bowled out for 342 on the second day, while Punjab ended the first day on 269 for 4, a long way from where they stood early on.
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Manvanth Kumar rescues Karnataka from 194 for 8 against Saurashtra
Karnataka's innings began badly, as Rohan Patil made 6 and Vijaykumar Vyshak 1, and both were out with the score on 13. Mayank Agarwal and KV Aneesh then added 98 for the third wicket, which gave the innings some shape before Saurashtra struck again.
Mayank was dismissed for 42 and Aneesh followed for 59 at 131 for 4, before Aneeshwar Gautam fell for 4 at 140. Karun Nair made 46 and was the eighth man out at 194, with Jaydev Unadkat finishing day one with 3 for 49 for Saurashtra.
Manvanth took the game away from the bowlers from there. He made 135 from 214 balls with 11 fours and six sixes, and he put on 146 for the ninth wicket with Abhilash Shetty, who faced 135 balls. Manvanth was unbeaten on 86 when stumps were drawn on day one, with Karnataka on 281 for 8.
It was his first hundred in the format and came a week after his first-class debut against Andhra. Manvanth is a left-handed batter and right-arm seamer who was in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2025 without playing a game. Karnataka added 148 runs after the eighth wicket fell, and he scored 135 of them.
Uday Saharan rebuilds Punjab after early wickets against Chhattisgarh
Punjab chose to bat first at the New PCA Stadium, and Vihaan Malhotra and Harnoor Pannu gave them a half-century opening stand. Both were then out lbw, Malhotra for 40 off 77 balls to Dharmendrasinh Jadeja and Pannu to Ajay Mandal, who bowled left-arm spin from the other end.
Shubman Gill was next, playing his first Ranji game of the season, but he lasted only five balls. Mandal drew him forward and bowled him through the gate for 1, which left Punjab on 69 for 3 and the innings in need of a rescue.
Saharan provided it, and he added 130 for the fourth wicket with Prabhsimran Singh, who made 62 off 133 balls before Jadeja trapped him lbw just before tea. Saharan used the sweep and the slog sweep well against the two left-arm spinners and reached his third first-class hundred off 168 balls.
Salil Arora then stayed with him on 38 off 75 balls, and the pair added 71 in the final session without losing a wicket. Saharan had hit 13 fours by stumps, and Punjab, who drew their opener against Assam, were 269 for 4 at the close with their captain still at the crease.
History made: Chinmay Sutar becomes second player to smash a 400 in Ranji
If Karnataka and Punjab's comebacks weren't enough, Mizoram's Chinmay Sutar hit a historic 400 and became only the second player ever in Ranji Trophy history to reach the milestone.
190 of these runs came in a 400-run last-wicket stand, saving his side from a total collapse against Nagaland. His speed had also been a big talking point among the fans as this 400 came in just 517 balls.