Karnataka ended day one of its 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra on top after scoring 274 and reducing the host to 16 for two at the ACA Stadium in Mulapadu near here on Sunday.
The hero for the visitors was R. Smaran, who marked his senior Karnataka captaincy debut with a splendid century (126, 218b, 11x4, 1x6), rescuing his side from a precarious 22 for four.
Nestled amidst the hills, the Mulapadu ground is picturesque. But under hot conditions and stagnant late-summer air, it resembled a furnace.
Yet, Smaran batted for nearly five-and-a-half hours and did not give Andhra even a sniff until he was out late in the day.
After heavyweights K.L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair fell cheaply owing to some good bowling and not-so-good batting, Smaran combined for a 111-run partnership for the fifth wicket with wicket-keeper batter K.L. Shrijith (58, 82b, 3x4, 3x6).
Karnataka's K.L. Shrijith plays a shot during the first day of the Ranji Trophy match against Andhra at at the ACA International Stadium in Mulapadu. on Sunday, October 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
Shrijith was the more expansive batter, coming up with an array of reverse-sweeps and a stand-out acrobatic six over mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar.
After his dismissal, Karnataka wobbled again, down to 174 for seven. However, Smaran batted superbly with the tail, stitching a 59-run association with debutant Madhav Bajaj (33, 53b, 2x4, 1x6) and 41 runs with Shikhar Shetty (13, 38b, 2x4).
The 23-year-old brought up his eighth First Class century with a punched four off left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan, a carbon copy of the shot with which he had begun his innings.
When he was eventually castled by Lalith while attempting a pull, he threw the bat up in the air in disappointment. But the sadness did not linger long as his spinners pegged Andhra back.
Leggie Shreyas Gopal missed out owing to dehydration and left-arm tweaker Madhav — one of three debutants along with Manvanth Kumar and Ritesh Bhatkal — was drafted into the XI.
Andhra's Saurabh Kumar bowls on day one of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka at the ACA International Stadium in Mulapadu, Sunday, October 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
After Shikhar struck first ball, having Hemanth Reddy caught at cover by Smaran, Madhav forced T. Vijay to edge to Rahul at slip. Can the away side drive home the advantage?
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul c Revanth b Sasikanth 4, Mayank Agarwal b Saiteja 5, K.V. Aneesh c Bhui b Saiteja 0, Karun Nair lbw b Sasikanth 8, R. Smaran b Lalith 126, K.L. Shrijith lbw b Saurabh 58, Manvanth Kumar lbw b Saurabh 13, Ritesh Bhatkal b Vijay 6, Madhav Bajaj b Lalith 33, Shikhar Shetty c Revanth b Saurabh 13, Abhilash Shetty (not out) 0; Extras (b-5, lb-2, nb-1): 8; Total (in 82.2 overs): 274.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-9, 4-22, 5-133, 6-165, 7-174, 8-233, 9-274.
Andhra bowling: Saiteja 8-3-20-2, Sasikanth 5-2-10-2, Vijay 25-5-71-1, Lalith 22-1-87-2, Saurabh 19.2-1-69-3, Hemanth 3-0-10-0.
Andhra — 1st innings: Hemanth Reddy c Smaran b Shikhar 1, Abhishek Reddy (batting) 10, T. Vijay c Rahul b Madhav 4, Shaik Rasheed (batting) 1; Total (for two wkts in five overs): 16.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10.
Karnataka bowling: Abhilash 1-0-5-0, Shikhar 2-0-8-1, Madhav 2-0-3-1.
Toss: Karnataka.