Day two of the third Ranji Trophy round rattled along nicely. Three different batters – Karun Nair, R Smaran and Shikhar Mohan – helped themselves to double-centuries, while Vidarbha’s bowling stocks reminded everyone why the central zone side rarely stay quiet for long.
Karnataka: Nair keeps nudging the selectors
Not picked for India or even the India A shadow tour, Karun Nair was back in the Ranji groove and, frankly, looked at ease. On a slow Mangalapuram track he turned a tidy start into 233 (389 balls, 25 fours, two sixes) against Kerala, his fifth first-class double and third in under two seasons.
A reminder: chief selector Ajit Agarkar had binned him for the recent West Indies Tests, saying they had “expected a little bit more” after Nair scraped 205 runs at 25.62 in the Anderson–Tendulkar series. The right-hander’s response has been runs, and more runs. He was unbeaten on 174 last week; now there is another double.
“Obviously, it is quite disappointing, but I know that I deserve to be there after the last two years I have had,” Nair said after that previous innings. “People might have their own opinions, but for me personally, I can have my own. My own opinion is that I deserve a lot better.”
Here he finally found company. Twenty-two-year-old R Smaran, tidy and unhurried, joined Nair for a 343-run fourth-wicket stand – just 12 shy of the state record. When NP Basil eventually pinned Nair, Smaran simply carried on, closing on a career-best 220 not out. Karnataka, still hunting a first outright win this season, will fancy their chances with 500-plus already in the book.
Jharkhand: Mohan moves fast
Over in Ranchi, 20-year-old opener Shikhar Mohan posted 207 from 303 deliveries (21 fours, three sixes) as Jharkhand declared at 510 for eight against Nagaland. It was only his third first-class knock but the poise suggested he has been here far longer.
The innings began under mild pressure – the hosts had slipped to 21 for two – yet Mohan settled once stand-in captain Virat Singh (Ishan Kishan is away with India A) joined him. Their 253-run partnership steadied everything until Virat was leg before to left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur. Later, Kumar Kushagra’s breezy 58 and Robin Minz’s fifty allowed a timely declaration. Jharkhand are now eyeballing an innings win.
J&K: Khajuria falls ten short
At Raipur there was nearly a fourth double. Jammu & Kashmir opener Shubham Khajuria, fluent for most of his 344-ball vigil, was pinned by Vidarbha left-armer Aditya Sarwate for 190. His effort at least countered seamer Ravi Kiran’s seven for 82 for Chhattisgarh and dragged J&K up towards respectability.
Vidarbha: depth on show, again
Vidarbha’s own day in Raipur underlined how much bowling quality lurks beneath their more celebrated names. Off-spinner Nachiket Bhute sliced through Tamil Nadu, collecting five for figures that left TN trying to rebuild from under 200. With Sarwate already in the wickets, captain Akshay Wadkar suddenly has options everywhere.
A quick look ahead
Karnataka will hope their pair of doubles sets up a first-innings lead that matters. Jharkhand, armed with 500 on the board, should be wrapping things quickly if their seamers hit the right lengths. And Vidarbha, as ever, just keep rolling out another bowler ready to do a job.
No hyperbole needed; the scorecards tell the story. Three doubles in a single day is tidy going, and for Nair in particular the message to the national selectors is becoming increasingly hard to miss.
