Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Kerala seeks redemption against Madhya Pradesh after white-ball setback

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Kerala seeks redemption against Madhya Pradesh after white-ball setback

Kerala will look to reignite its quest for a long-awaited Ranji Trophy knockout-stage qualification spot as it hosts Madhya Pradesh in an Elite Group C fixture at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, starting on Thursday.

The home side is in a strong position to progress from the Ranji group stage for the first time in nearly six years. Kerala fought its way to second place in the standings, just two points behind Haryana, before a disappointing stint in the white-ball tournaments.

Kerala suffered group-stage exits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) and Vijay Hazare (VHT) tournaments and will hope that a return to red-ball cricket will change its fortunes.

Its opponent, Madhya Pradesh, has endured a faltering Ranji season so far, with the 2021-22 champion languishing in the bottom half of the points table.

The scales will tip into balance following a venue shift — necessitated by telecast demands — to Greenfield from the St Xavier’s College Ground in Thumba, where Kerala won both its games this season.

Kerala’s only Ranji game at this venue took place nearly eight years ago, making the conditions equally alien to both teams.

Madhya Pradesh’s hopes of making a late charge in the group stage will lean heavily on its star-studded batting unit, headlined by Indian internationals Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer.

Patidar has been in stirring form with the bat. He finished as the second-highest run-scorer in SMAT 2024, helping Madhya Pradesh to a runner-up position.

However, Patidar and his teammates will face a well-rounded Kerala bowling attack, which has demonstrated considerable skill in adapting to a variety of conditions. In spinning conditions at home earlier in the season, the spin unit, led by Jalaj Saxena, excelled. On green tops, such as the one encountered in Rohtak against Haryana, the pacers have risen to the occasion.

Kerala will be buoyed by the timely recovery of its captain, Sachin Baby, who has returned to full fitness after a groin injury sustained during the SMAT.

While Madhya Pradesh needs an outright win to keep its knockout qualification hopes alive, Kerala has some breathing room courtesy of the points cushion it built in the first half of the season.

The Kerala side will also view this game as an opportunity to move past the Sanju Samson non-selection saga (for VHT), which has dominated the headlines over the last week.