On February 17, 2025, the first semi-final of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season commenced at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, featuring Kerala against Gujarat. Kerala won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that offered minimal assistance to the bowlers. By the close of play on Day 1, Kerala had reached 206 for 4 after 89 overs, with captain Sachin Baby anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 69 runs. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Opening Partnership:
The day began with Kerala’s openers, Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal, providing a solid foundation. They added 60 runs in 20.4 overs, displaying patience and discipline against Gujarat’s bowlers. However, the partnership was broken when Chandran was run out for 30, followed shortly by Kunnummal’s dismissal for 30, trapped lbw by Ravi Bishnoi. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Middle Order Stability:
Following the early setbacks, Kerala introduced Varun Nayanar at number three, replacing Shoun Roger. Nayanar played a cautious knock, contributing 10 runs before being On February 17, 2025, the first semi-final of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season commenced at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, featuring Kerala against Gujarat. Kerala won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that offered minimal assistance to the bowlers. By the close of play on Day 1, Kerala had reached 206 for 4 after 89 overs, with captain Sachin Baby anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 69 runs.
Opening Partnership:
The day began with Kerala’s openers, Akshay Chandran and Rohan Kunnummal, providing a solid foundation. They added 60 runs in 20.4 overs, displaying patience and discipline against Gujarat’s bowlers. However, the partnership was broken when Chandran was run out for 30, followed shortly by Kunnummal’s dismissal for 30, trapped lbw by Ravi Bishnoi.
Middle Order Stability:
Following the early setbacks, Kerala introduced Varun Nayanar at number three, replacing Shoun Roger. Nayanar played a cautious knock, contributing 10 runs before being dismissed caught behind off seamer Priyajitsing Jadeja. At this point, Kerala was reduced to 100 for 3.
Sachin Baby’s Resilience:
Despite the middle-order collapses, captain Sachin Baby remained steadfast at the crease. He faced 193 balls to remain unbeaten on 69 runs at stumps, anchoring the innings and providing stability. His resilience was crucial in preventing further wickets and maintaining the team’s progress.
Lower Order Contributions:
Mohammed Azharuddeen supported Baby with a patient 30 runs off 66 balls. Their partnership was instrumental in taking Kerala to 206 for 4 by the end of the day’s play. The duo’s ability to rotate strike and find boundaries when necessary kept the scoreboard ticking.
Gujarat’s Bowling Efforts:
Gujarat’s bowlers, including Ravi Bishnoi and Priyajitsing Jadeja, were disciplined but faced challenges in breaking the partnerships. Bishnoi’s delivery to dismiss Kunnummal was particularly impressive, as it beat the inside edge to trap the batsman plumb in front. Jadeja’s seaming deliveries kept the batsmen on their toes, but the lack of assistance from the pitch made it difficult to extract significant turn or bounce.
Pitch Conditions:
The pitch at Ahmedabad offered little for the bowlers, favoring the batsmen. This resulted in a slow and attritional day of cricket, with batsmen needing to apply themselves to build partnerships and accumulate runs. The lack of assistance for the bowlers meant that any mistakes by the batsmen were often punished, leading to a relatively low number of wickets falling throughout the day.
Debutants in the Lineup:
Kerala included two debutants in their lineup: 18-year-old Ahammed Imran and Varun Nayanar. Their inclusion added depth to the batting order, with Nayanar contributing to the team’s total before his dismissal. The experience of the senior players, combined with the enthusiasm of the newcomers, provided a balanced approach to the innings.
Looking Ahead:
As the match progresses, Kerala will aim to build on their current position and set a challenging target for Gujarat. The team’s focus will be on consolidating their innings and capitalizing on the favorable batting conditions. Gujarat, on the other hand, will look to break the partnerships and restrict Kerala’s scoring to gain an advantage in the semi-final.
In summary, Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Kerala and Gujarat was characterized by patient batting and disciplined bowling. Sachin Baby’s unbeaten half-century was the highlight of the day, providing stability to Kerala’s innings. The match remains evenly poised, with both teams having opportunities to gain the upper hand in the coming days.
Sources
Attach
Search
Reasondismissed caught behind off seamer Priyajitsing Jadeja. At this point, Kerala was reduced to 100 for 3. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Sachin Baby’s Resilience:
Despite the middle-order collapses, captain Sachin Baby remained steadfast at the crease. He faced 193 balls to remain unbeaten on 69 runs at stumps, anchoring the innings and providing stability. His resilience was crucial in preventing further wickets and maintaining the team’s progress. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Lower Order Contributions:
Mohammed Azharuddeen supported Baby with a patient 30 runs off 66 balls. Their partnership was instrumental in taking Kerala to 206 for 4 by the end of the day’s play. The duo’s ability to rotate strike and find boundaries when necessary kept the scoreboard ticking. citeturn0search2
Ranji Trophy Gujarat’s Bowling Efforts:
Gujarat’s bowlers, including Ravi Bishnoi and Priyajitsing Jadeja, were disciplined but faced challenges in breaking the partnerships. Bishnoi’s delivery to dismiss Kunnummal was particularly impressive, as it beat the inside edge to trap the batsman plumb in front. Jadeja’s seaming deliveries kept the batsmen on their toes, but the lack of assistance from the pitch made it difficult to extract significant turn or bounce. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Pitch Conditions:
The pitch at Ahmedabad offered little for the bowlers, favoring the batsmen. This resulted in a slow and attritional day of cricket, with batsmen needing to apply themselves to build partnerships and accumulate runs. The lack of assistance for the bowlers meant that any mistakes by the batsmen were often punished, leading to a relatively low number of wickets falling throughout the day. citeturn0search0
Ranji Trophy Debutants in the Lineup:
Kerala included two debutants in their lineup: 18-year-old Ahammed Imran and Varun Nayanar. Their inclusion added depth to the batting order, with Nayanar contributing to the team’s total before his dismissal. The experience of the senior players, combined with the enthusiasm of the newcomers, provided a balanced approach to the innings. citeturn0search3
Ranji Trophy Looking Ahead:
As the match progresses, Kerala will aim to build on their current position and set a challenging target for Gujarat. The team’s focus will be on consolidating their innings and capitalizing on the favorable batting conditions. Gujarat, on the other hand, will look to break the partnerships and restrict Kerala’s scoring to gain an advantage in the semi-final.
In summary, Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Kerala and Gujarat was characterized by patient batting and disciplined bowling. Sachin Baby’s unbeaten half-century was the highlight of the day, providing stability to Kerala’s innings. The match remains evenly poised, with both teams having opportunities to gain the upper hand in the coming days.
