Kerala’s Salman Nizar throughout a observe session forward of Ranji Trophy semifinal towards Gujarat on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: VIJAY SONEJI
It will likely be a battle between the middle-order heavy lifters when Gujarat takes on Kerala within the first semifinal of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 on the Narendra Modi Stadium right here on Monday.
Each groups have banked on contributions from the mid-pack to bail them out of bother by way of the premier home red-ball competitors — their quarterfinal wins being an illustration.
Kerala’s Mohammad Azaruddeen throughout a observe session forward of the Ranji Trophy semifinal towards Gujarat on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
| Picture Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI
Whereas Gujarat’s batters locked themselves on the crease to bat Saurashtra out of reckoning in Rajkot, Kerala wanted a cussed 256-ball affiliation for the seventh wicket to earn a draw with a first-innings lead.
Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen, the orchestrators of that match-winning partnership, are additionally the main run-scorers for the southern facet this season, with 555 and 424 runs respectively. The group will hope for extra contributions from skipper Sachin Child and skilled opener Rohan Kunnummal to ease the stress on Nizar and Co.
Kerala’s Sachin Babby throughout a observe session forward of the Ranji Trophy semifinal towards Gujarat on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
| Picture Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI
Baba Aparajith, who was introduced in forward of the season from neighbour Tamil Nadu, will proceed to overlook out following a calf damage sustained throughout the group stage encounter towards Madhya Pradesh.
For the host, Jaymeet Patel has had a ground-breaking maiden season in First Class cricket, tallying 582 runs in eight matches, with two lots of and 4 half-centuries. Manan Hingrajia and Umang Kumar even have flourished with the bat to counter the lean season encountered by veteran Priyank Panchal.
Spinners have referred to as the photographs for each groups within the bowling division. Siddharth Desai has scalped 35 wickets at a mean of 23.40 for Gujarat, whereas Kerala’s skilled stars — Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate — have picked 60 wickets between them.
Gujarat’s Ravi Bishnoi enjoys a lighter second throughout a observe session forward of the Ranji Trophy semifinal towards Kerala on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
| Picture Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI
The Chintan Gaja-led facet will hope to profit from the house circumstances to make its first closing since 2016-17. As for Kerala, it has already equalled its best-ever efficiency within the event, however the focus will very a lot be on qualifying for the ultimate and authoring a contemporary web page in its cricketing historical past.
Printed – February 16, 2025 06:52 pm IST
