KL Rahul endured a disappointing start to the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season alongside some other star players. The India Test vice-captain fell for just four runs as Karnataka’s top order collapsed against Andhra on the opening day of their Elite Group B clash at the Dr. Gokaraju Liala Gangaaraju ACA Cricket Ground in Mulapadu.
Karnataka, last season’s runners-up, won the toss and elected to bat under overcast conditions, and the decision seemed like it was not the smartest, as it quickly backfired. Opening the innings alongside Mayank Agarwal, Rahul lasted only 11 balls. He struck one boundary before edging KV Sasikanth to wicketkeeper Revanth Reddy in the fourth over, departing with the score reading 9 for 3.
KL Rahul falls, Jaiswal gets duck as Indian stars struggle at Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season opener
The early damage was inflicted by Andhra’s new-ball pair. Kavuri Saiteja removed Agarwal for 5, bowling him in the third over, and then claimed the scalp of KV Aneesh for a golden duck, caught by captain Ricky Bhui. Karun Nair offered brief resistance with 8 before becoming Sasikanth’s second victim, trapped leg-before. At 22 for 4, the visitors faced a stern examination of their depth.
Rahul’s modest contribution marked a quiet beginning to his domestic campaign while fans expected something else. The senior batter had returned to first-class cricket at the behest of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which directed Test regulars to gain red-ball match practice ahead of the two-Test series in New Zealand later this year. The first Test is scheduled for Wellington in mid-November. Rahul, who is also part of the India A squad for the shadow tour against New Zealand A, was available for only this opening fixture.
The early failure stood in contrast to Rahul’s strong performances in last season’s knockout stages. He scored 130 in the quarter-final against Mumbai and followed it with 141 and an unbeaten 86 in the semi-final against Uttarakhand, helping Karnataka reach the final, where they ultimately finished second to Jammu and Kashmir. Those knocks had underlined his value in longer-format cricket for the state side.
Yashasvi Jaiswal also struggled
Alongside Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal also struggled as he fell for a duck in the opener. He was dismissed for a duck off 13 balls while opening the batting for Mumbai against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. He was named in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series recently; however, he did not play any of the three matches. His domestic campaign comes after it, in which he has not yet impressed. His last game was when India faced Sri Lanka in the two-Test series, when the 24-year-old recorded 77 runs across three innings.
Ravichandran Smaran and Krishnan Shrijith played carefully
While the top order struggled, the middle order staged a determined recovery. Stand-in captain Ravichandran Smaran, leading in the absence of Devdutt Padikkal, and wicketkeeper-batter Krishnan Shrijith expressed themselves carefully. The pair handled the remainder of the morning and afternoon sessions with patience, building a substantial unbroken partnership. By the time the score reached 124 for 4 after 35 overs, Smaran was unbeaten on 48, and Shrijith had progressed to 51, featuring three fours and two sixes. Their steady accumulation lifted Karnataka from early trouble and provided a platform for the lower order.
Who else is featuring in Ranji Trophy opening day?
India captain Shubman Gill, meanwhile, opted to skip Punjab’s match against Assam. The mixed fortunes of the national players highlighted both the competitive nature of the domestic circuit and the challenge of transitioning between formats after a busy international white-ball schedule. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar are some of the other Indian stars to feature in the opening round.
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