CRICKET | Smaran’s goal: 1000-plus runs in the Ranji season
Cricketer R. Smaran is aiming to surpass 1000 runs in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season after narrowly missing the milestone last year. He recently scored a century in the Irani Cup, signaling strong form ahead of the domestic campaign.
Why it matters
It tracks the performance and career trajectory of a rising athlete in India's premier domestic cricket tournament.
R. Smaran missed the landmark of 1000 runs in a Ranji Trophy season by just a half-century in the 2025-26 campaign. Disappointed as he was to not cross the elusive figure, it is clear that Smaran is on the right track.
On day three of the Irani Cup fixture against Jammu & Kashmir, a curtain-raiser to the Ranji campaign beginning on October 11, the 23-year-old from Bengaluru struck an exquisite 126 n.o. for Rest of India. He had also top-scored for RoI in the first innings with a contribution of 68.
“It’s a very good start for me this season. Before heading into the Ranji Trophy, it always feels good to go in with some volume of runs. The goal doesn’t change. It is to score 1000-plus runs in the Ranji Trophy and be on top in back-to-back seasons,” Smaran said after the day’s play.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in