Uttarakhand, J&K, Bengal and Karnataka storm into Ranji Trophy semifinals

New Delhi: After gripping contests in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals (Feb 6–10), four teams advanced to the semifinals: Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Bengal, and Karnataka. Uttarakhand and J&K achieved historic milestones by reaching the last four for the first time in their histories, while Bengal’s dominant batting and Karnataka’s experienced leadership, anchored by KL Rahul, ensured their progression to the semis.

UTTARAKHAND vs JHARKHAND

Uttarakhand scripted history by securing a comprehensive win over Jharkhand by an innings and six runs, booking their maiden Ranji semifinal berth. After restricting Jharkhand to 235 in the first innings, Uttarakhand posted a robust 371, with solid contributions from captain Kunal Chandela and Jagdisha Suchith. Their bowlers, led by Mayank Mishra, then skittled Jharkhand for just 130 in the second innings, sealing an emphatic victory. Strong all-round performances underpinned a dominant display, as Uttarakhand outclassed their opponents with both bat and ball to become one of the tournament’s feel-good stories.

Final Result: Uttarakhand won by an innings and 6 runs

Jharkhand 1st innings: 235 all out

Leading contributions: Aditya Singh 83, Virat Singh 55.

Uttarakhand bowlers: Mayank Mishra and Abhay Negi among key scalps.

Uttarakhand 1st innings: 371 all out

Top scores: Jagdisha Suchith 70, Kunal Chandela (captain) 68, Abhay Negi 46.

Jharkhand bowling: Jatin Pandey 2/72.

Jharkhand 2nd innings: 130 all out

Top batsmen: Virat Singh 55, Kumar Kushagra 34.

Uttarakhand bowlers: Mayank Mishra 5/22, Abhay Negi 4/36.

J&K vs MADHYA PRADESH

Jammu & Kashmir continued their remarkable run with a historic 56-run victory over Madhya Pradesh. Paceman Auqib Nabi was the standout, claiming a match-deciding 12 wickets across both innings to dismantle MP’s batting lineup. J&K amassed competitive totals and then showed resilience to defend them, holding firm under pressure to clinch their first-ever Ranji semi-final spot. This win capped a season of breakout performances and showcased J&K’s rise as a competitive force in Indian domestic cricket.

Final Result: Jammu & Kashmir won by 56 runs.

J&K 1st innings: 194 all out

MP 1st innings: 152 all out

J&K 2nd innings: 248 all out

MP 2nd innings: 234 all out

Saransh Jain top scored with 64, but MP fell short.

Auqib Nabi with a match-defining 12 wickets for 110 runs across both innings.

BENGAL vs ANDHRA

Bengal delivered a commanding performance to cruise past Andhra and secure their place in the semifinals. Led by a stunning innings of 299 by Sudip Kumar Gharami, Bengal set up a massive total and then bowled Andhra out with relative ease. Gharami’s near-triple century provided the backbone of Bengal’s dominant display, allowing their bowlers to apply pressure and wrap up victory by an innings and 90 runs. The comprehensive nature of this win highlighted Bengal’s balance and depth, with both batting and bowling firing in unison.

Final Result: Bengal won by an innings and 90 runs.

Andhra 1st innings: 295 all out

Top scorer: Ricky Bhui 83

Bengal bowlers: Mukesh Kumar 5/66, Akash Deep 4/79.

Bengal 1st innings: 629 all out

Major innings by Sudip Kumar Gharami 299, backed by Gandhi 95 and S. Gupta 81.

Sheik Rashid 4/63 was the pick for Andhra’s bowling.

Andhra 2nd innings: 244 all out

Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 90.

Bengal’s Shahbaz 4/72 among key bowlers.

Gharami’s mammoth 299 anchored a massive total that Andhra simply couldn’t overcome across both innings.

MUMBAI vs KARNATAKA

In a high-stakes encounter between heavyweights, Karnataka emerged victorious over Mumbai by four wickets to enter the semifinals. Led by a brilliant century from KL Rahul, Karnataka chased down a challenging target, showcasing composure and experience in a tense finish. Rahul’s innings anchored the chase, with valuable support from his teammates to see Karnataka over the line and eliminate the 42-time champions. The win reinforced Karnataka’s credentials as serious title contenders in the domestic season.

Final Result: Karnataka won by 4 wickets

Mumbai 1st innings: 120 all out

Akhil Herwadker top-scored with 60

Karnataka 1st innings: 173 all out

Mayank Agarwal was the top scorer with 92.

Mumbai bowlers got regular breakthroughs.

Mumbai 2nd innings: 377 all out

Karnataka 2nd innings (chase): 325/6

KL Rahul with 130 anchored the chase brilliantly.

Ravichandran Smaran remained unbeaten on 83; Padikkal contributed 39.

(This report has been collated with the help of AI)

Tags : Jammu & Kashmir, Cricket, Ranji Trophy, Uttarakhand, Bengal, Karnataka, KL Rahul