Mayank Agarwal has been appointed as the captain of Karnataka for the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2024/25 season. The 33-year-old batsman, who has significant experience and leadership qualities, will be supported by Manish Pandey as his deputy. Pandey, another veteran in the squad, brings his tactical acumen and batting prowess to the table, making this leadership duo one to watch in the opening stages of the prestigious domestic tournament.
Karnataka, a team with a rich history in the Ranji Trophy, having clinched the title eight times, has named a robust 16-member squad for the season. The team is set to launch its campaign against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on October 11. The inclusion of both seasoned players and rising stars suggests that Karnataka has prepared meticulously for the challenges ahead.
The team is part of the Elite Group C, which also includes formidable sides such as Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Kerala, and Punjab. After their initial face-off with Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka will move on to clash with Kerala in their second fixture, scheduled to take place at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur from October 18 onwards.
One of the notable aspects of the squad announcement is the return of the dynamic pacer Prasidh Krishna. Prasidh had been sidelined for months due to surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon, an injury he sustained on the first day of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy 2023-24 match against Gujarat in Ahmedabad last January. His rehabilitation under the supervision of the BCCI medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has gone well, and his comeback adds significant depth to Karnataka’s bowling lineup.
Mayank Agarwal, who recently captained India A to a Duleep Trophy victory, will be looking to improve on his batting performance. Despite leading his team to the title, his personal statistics with the bat were less than impressive. In three matches during the Duleep Trophy, he aggregated just 142 runs at an average of 23.66, with only one half-century to his name. This season of the Ranji Trophy presents an opportunity for him to revive his fortunes and potentially catch the eye of national selectors once again.
Mayank last donned the Indian jersey in March 2022 during a Test match against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A strong performance in these initial rounds could be pivotal for Mayank, especially in the highly competitive environment of Indian cricket, where places in the national team are fiercely contested.
Supporting Mayank and Prasidh in the Karnataka squad are players like Nikin Jose, Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, and several others. Manoeuvering through a competitive Group C in the Ranji Trophy will require the collective effort of these skilled players.
. Shreyas Gopal brings his all-round capabilities as a leg-spinner and a middle-order batsman, while Devdutt Padikkal’s prowess at the top of the order gives the team a solid start in their innings.
The announcement of this formidable squad underscores Karnataka’s intent to reclaim its dominance in the Ranji Trophy. Here is the complete squad list for the first two rounds:
1. Mayank Agarwal (captain)
2. Nikin Jose
3. Devdutt Padikkal
4. R Smaran
5. Manish Pandey (vice-captain)
6. Shreyas Gopal
7. Sujay Sateri
8. Hardik Raj
9. Vyshak Vijaykumar
10. Prasidh Krishna
11. Vasuki Koushik
12. Luvnith Sisodia
13. Mohsin Khan
14. Vidyadhar Patil
15. Kishan Bedare
16. Abhilash Shetty
As Karnataka steps into the Ranji Trophy season, the combined experience and youthful energy in their squad hold promise for an exciting and competitive campaign. The opening rounds will set the tone, not just for Karnataka but for the entire tournament, as states vie for one of the most coveted titles in Indian domestic cricket.
