The long-awaited quarter-final match of the Ranji Trophy has reached an exciting climax as the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team faces Kerala at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. With Jammu & Kashmir declaring at 399 runs after two innings, Kerala needs to chase 299 runs to secure victory and progress to the semi-finals.
The match saw veterans showcasing their skills, particularly Jammu & Kashmir's captain Paras Dogra, who played a phenomenal innings to score 132 runs. This marked Dogra's 31st first-class century, and his partnership of 146 runs with Kanhaiya Wadhawan, who added 64 runs, was instrumental for the team. After trailing by one run from the first innings, where Kerala narrowly led, Dogra’s performance on the fourth day provided his side with the necessary momentum.
At stumps on the fourth day of the match, Kerala was positioned at 100 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Rohan Kunnummal scored 36 runs, and Akshay Chandran remained at the crease with 32 not out, alongside captain Sachin Baby, who added 19 runs. While the figures appear promising, the challenge for Kerala is substantial as they approach the final day needing 299 runs to win or 90 overs of play to achieve just the right result for progression—a draw could also see them advance based on their first-innings performance.
The first innings was equally dramatic, as Jammu & Kashmir managed to amass 280 runs, aided by solid contributions from Kanhaiya Wadhawan, who scored 48 runs, and Nasir Lone, who added 44 runs. Meanwhile, Kerala, coming back stronger, noted its first-innings lead due to the outstanding performance of Salman Nizar, who scored 112 runs, and Jalaj Saxena with 67 runs, ending their innings at 281. M.D. Nidheesh on the bowling front for J&K stole the show with 6 wickets, highlighting his prowess as the lead bowler.
Despite facing early setbacks, with wickets falling at 78 for 3, Dogra's century paired with lower-order contributions sealed the innings for Jammu & Kashmir optimistically at 399 runs before they declared, applying considerable pressure on the Kerala side.
Now, Kerala must forge its path to victory against the J&K bowlers, led by Yudhvir Singh and Nidheesh, whose figures have been impressive throughout the tournament. For Kerala to carry the day, they need not only patience but considerable skill from seasoned players like Sachin Baby and Salman Nizar to counteract the bowling attack.
With both results—victory for Kerala or even the draw—still possible, the final day promises to be filled with excitement, strategy, and high emotion as each team strives for semifinals’ glory. Will Kerala manage to withstand the pressure or will Jammu & Kashmir break through to claim the victory? Only time will tell!