Karnataka announces 15-member squad for the Ranji Trophy 2025; Karun Nair returns

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Karnataka have finalized their 15-member squad for the highly anticipated Ranji Trophy 2025 season, with experienced batter Mayank Agarwal appointed as captain for another term. The squad features the notable return of Karun Nair, who rejoins his home side after a successful stint with Vidarbha, further fuelling the team’s ambitions in the new season. The campaign is set to kick off on October 15 as Karnataka faces Saurashtra in their opening match at Rajkot, with cricket fans watching closely for early signs of championship intent.

One of the highlights of Karnataka’s squad announcement is the comeback of Nair to the state side. Nair, having led Vidarbha and delivered a stellar performance last season—scoring 863 runs at an impressive average of 53.93—returns at a time when he was not selected for India’s Test series against West Indies. His innings for Vidarbha were instrumental, reflecting top-class consistency and earning him a national call-up, but his omission from India’s squad opens the window for a fresh Ranji campaign with Karnataka.

Nair’s last appearance for Karnataka was in the 2022 season. His return adds substantial depth to Karnataka’s batting line-up for the coming matches. The squad will also see familiar names like R. Smaran, last season’s highest run-getter for Karnataka with 516 runs in 10 innings. The absence of veteran Manish Pandey, who did not feature in this year’s announcement, marks a significant shift; doors appear to be closing on Pandey’s first-class career, signalling a new era for the team.

Other key players include KL Shrijith and Kruthik Krishna as wicket-keeping options, while the bowling unit boasts top performers like Vyshak Vijaykumar, Vidwath Kaverappa, and Abhilash Shetty. V. Koushik, the previous season’s highest wicket-taker for Karnataka with 23 wickets at an average of 18.73, will be a central figure in leading the attack.

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Reflecting on the previous season, Karnataka’s journey in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 had its challenges. The team managed only 2 wins out of 7 matches, drawing the remaining five and ultimately finishing fourth in Elite Group C. The management has responded decisively with a blend of seasoned and young talent for the new campaign.

With the Ranji Trophy commencing soon, Karnataka’s new-look squad is determined to improve upon last season’s results and make a strong impact. The reintegration of Nair, combined with Agarwal’s leadership, provides optimism to fans and followers, as Karnataka looks to return to its winning ways in India’s prestigious first-class competition.

Karnataka squad for Ranji Trophy 2025:

Mayank Agarwal (c), Karun Nair, R Smaran, KL Shrijith (wk), Shreyas Gopal, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Vidwath Kaverappa, Abhilash Shetty, M Venkatesh, Nikin Jose, Abhinav Manohar, Kruthik Krishna (wk), KV Aneesh, Mohsin Khan, and Shikhar Shetty.

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