Ravichandran Smaran's unbeaten 126 puts Rest of India in control against J&K in Irani Cup
toi
newspoint|04-10-2026
In red-hot form, Ravichandran Smaran strengthened his case for higher honours with a fighting unbeaten 126 that put Rest of India in control against Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup at the Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Karnataka left-hander, recently named his state’s captain for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season, struck 126 not out off 131 balls, with 15 fours and five sixes. It was his seventh first-class century in just his 20th match.
RoI were in trouble at 197/8 on Day Three after Akash Deep fell for 1. Earlier, captain Rishabh Pant, who was unwell and walked in at No. 8, was trapped lbw by off-spinner Sahil Lotra for 8, while vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan fell for a rare five-ball duck, caught at slip off Umar Nazir.
Smaran then took charge. He added an unbroken 109 for the ninth wicket with No. 10 Mukesh Choudhary, who battled for 47 balls for 9 not out. The stand may yet prove decisive, lifting RoI to 306/8 at stumps and extending their lead to 265.
Having top-scored with 68 in the first innings, Smaran again showed the class that brought him 950 runs at 86.36 for Karnataka in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. He reached his hundred off 113 balls and then smashed 26 off the next 18, attacking the J&K bowlers in fading light.
J&K were left to rue repeated lapses. Their bowlers sent down 21 no-balls, with Umar Nazir alone overstepping 15 times in the innings and 22 times in the match. Nazir had Smaran given lbw on 104, with RoI at 237, but the no-ball buzzer saved the batter.
Shubham Pundir also dropped a catch in the slips and appeared too deep for another regulation chance.
Lotra was J&K’s best bowler, finishing the day with 3/71 in 26 overs.
The 23-year-old Karnataka left-hander, recently named his state’s captain for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season, struck 126 not out off 131 balls, with 15 fours and five sixes. It was his seventh first-class century in just his 20th match.
RoI were in trouble at 197/8 on Day Three after Akash Deep fell for 1. Earlier, captain Rishabh Pant, who was unwell and walked in at No. 8, was trapped lbw by off-spinner Sahil Lotra for 8, while vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan fell for a rare five-ball duck, caught at slip off Umar Nazir.
Smaran then took charge. He added an unbroken 109 for the ninth wicket with No. 10 Mukesh Choudhary, who battled for 47 balls for 9 not out. The stand may yet prove decisive, lifting RoI to 306/8 at stumps and extending their lead to 265.
Having top-scored with 68 in the first innings, Smaran again showed the class that brought him 950 runs at 86.36 for Karnataka in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. He reached his hundred off 113 balls and then smashed 26 off the next 18, attacking the J&K bowlers in fading light.
J&K were left to rue repeated lapses. Their bowlers sent down 21 no-balls, with Umar Nazir alone overstepping 15 times in the innings and 22 times in the match. Nazir had Smaran given lbw on 104, with RoI at 237, but the no-ball buzzer saved the batter.
Shubham Pundir also dropped a catch in the slips and appeared too deep for another regulation chance.
Lotra was J&K’s best bowler, finishing the day with 3/71 in 26 overs.
