Ranji Trophy: Karnataka faces Andhra test in opening match
Karnataka is set to face Andhra in the opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The team faces challenges with key injuries in the fast-bowling department and a leadership transition to captain R. Smaran and coach R. Vinay Kumar.
Why it matters
The Ranji Trophy is the premier domestic cricket tournament in India, serving as the primary pipeline for national team selection.
Smaran, on captaincy debut, and Vinay Kumar, for whom it will be a maiden coaching stint in charge of Karnataka, have their task cut out
VIJAYAWADA: SSeven months after finishing second best to Jammu & Kashmir in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, Karnataka will begin yet another campaign with the singular aim of bringing home the trophy that has eluded it since 2014-15.
The first outing will be against Andhra at Mulapadu near here on Sunday. But, R. Smaran, on captaincy debut (in place of Devdutt Padikkal), and R. Vinay Kumar, for whom it will be a maiden coaching stint in charge of Karnataka, have their task cut out.
While K.L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and the in-form Smaran dominate the batting line-up, the fast-bowling department appears airy, with Prasidh Krishna, Vidwath Kaverappa, V. Vyshak and Vidyadhar Patil all out injured.
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