Ishan Kishan leads Jharkhand with fighting hundred

Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan played a brilliant innings to rescue his team from a precarious position on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy season. The visitors reached 307 for six against Tamil Nadu, thanks to Kishan’s unbeaten 125 off 183 balls, complemented by Sahil Raj’s 64 not out.

Jharkhand were struggling at one stage and looked likely to be bowled out for less than 200. However, Kishan and Raj stitched together an impressive unbroken 150-run partnership for the seventh wicket, steering the team to a respectable total. Tamil Nadu’s left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh made early inroads and finished with three wickets, while left-arm spinner DT Chandrasekar, returning to Ranji after a decade, claimed two wickets.

Elsewhere, defending champions Vidarbha had a strong start against Nagaland at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. They ended day one at 302 for three, with opener Aman Mokhade scoring a commanding 148. Dhruv Shorey added 64, and Yash Rathod remained unbeaten on 66, giving Vidarbha a solid platform.

In Kanpur, Andhra Pradesh opener and wicketkeeper KS Bharat made a fine start to the season, scoring 144 off 244 balls against Uttar Pradesh. His innings included 13 boundaries. Shaik Rasheed supported well with an unbeaten 94, helping Andhra reach 289 for three at stumps.

Odisha, playing Baroda in Cuttack, were 205 for five in 89.5 overs, with Rajesh Dhuper top-scoring at 76.

Brief scores:

Jharkhand 307/6 (Ishan Kishan 125, Sahil Raj 64; Gurjapneet Singh 3/51) vs Tamil Nadu Vidarbha 302/3 (Aman Mokhade 148; Saurav Kumar 2/57) vs Nagaland Andhra 289/3 (KS Bharat 144, Shaik Rasheed 94*; Aqib Khan 2/50) vs Uttar Pradesh

Odisha 205/5 (Rajesh Dhuper 76; Atit Seth 2/41) vs Baroda

The first day of the Ranji Trophy season showcased fighting centuries and crucial partnerships, setting the tone for an exciting campaign ahead.