Rohit is delighted to see the back of Kerala captain Azharuddeen.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Thiruvananthapuram: Chandigarh arrived with modest ambitions but left with its head held high after inflicting an innings and 92-run defeat on host Kerala in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the KCA Stadium here on Saturday.
Old habits die hard and it was another indiscreet display from the Kerala batters whose wrong choice of shots were calamitous on a surface which held no demons. Chandigarh bowlers were rewarded for adhering to the virtues of discipline and patience.
Kerala’s second innings lasted just 48 overs as Chandigarh wrapped up the win an hour after lunch on the third day. The slump started when Sachin Baby (six) showed poor judgement, shouldering arms to a straight delivery from Rohit Dhanda and was bowled. B. Aparajith (17) flicked Jagjit Singh straight to Nikhil Thakur at square leg as Kerala slipped to 44 for four in the first hour.
Vishnu Vinod (56, 43b, 12×4) and Salman Nizar (53, 84b, 4×4, 4×6) made contrasting fifties and figured in the highest partnership of the innings — 63 runs for the fifth wicket. However, both threw away their wickets which summed up Kerala’s ruinous batting approach.
Tighter lines from Chandigarh bowlers kept Vishnu, who raced to 54 off 34 balls, quiet for just an over. The batter lost patience and tried to hoist a short ball from Rohit but only got a leading edge which was caught by the bowler himself.
Vishnu’s dismissal saw Kerala lose two more wickets in the same over. Skipper Mohammed Azharuddeen (0) pulled Rohit straight to Nishunk Birla at third man and Ankit Sharma was trapped in front for a golden duck as Kerala slipped to 107 for seven.
Salman counterattacked and added 34 runs for the eight wicket with Sreehari S. Nair (two). But Arjun Azad won a leg-before decision in his favour to dismiss Sreehari in the last over before lunch.
The stubborn Eden Apple Tom (14 not out) helped Salman reach his fifty. But Salman fell just after his milestone, bowled, attempting a reverse sweep off Vishu Kashyap. It was all over when M.D. Nidheesh played an ugly hoick off Vishu and was caught at point by Jagjit.
The scores: Kerala — 1st innings: 139.
Chandigarh — 1st innings: 416.
Kerala — 2nd innings: Abhishek J. Nair c Arjit b Karthik 4, Rohan Kunnummal (Concussion Sub) lbw b Vishu 11, Sachin Baby b Rohit 6, B. Aparajith c Nikhil b Jagjit 17, Vishnu Vinod c & b Rohit 56, Salman Nizar b Vishu 53, Mohammed Azaruddeen c Birla b Rohit 0, Ankit Sharma lbw b Rohit 0; Sreehari S. Nair lbw b Arjun 2, Eden Apple Tom (not out) 14, M.D. Nidheesh c Jagjit b Vishu 12; Extras (b-8, lb-1, w-1): 10; Total (in 48 overs): 185.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-21, 3-40, 4-44, 5-107, 6-107, 7-107, 8-141, 9-167.
Chandigarh bowling: Karthik 2-0-5-1, Birla 8-2-61-0, Rohit 14-3-38-4, Vishu 12-2-41-3, Jagjit 9-2-25-1, Taranpreet 1-1-0-0, Arjun 2-0-6-1.
Published – January 24, 2026 06:43 pm IST
