Batting first is increasingly seen as the first step into a dystopian world. So comfortable are teams chasing a known target – especially in limited-overs cricket – that sides wield the willow first only to “challenge” themselves.

One wonders if Uttarakhand was thinking on these lines when it chose to field on the first morning of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy semifinal against Karnataka at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday. It was, admittedly, a red-ball game, but it is also a format where the first-innings lead matters.

But by stumps, Kunal Chandela & Co. would have been ruing that decision as Karnataka rode on K.L. Rahul’s 25th First-Class ton (141, 211b, 11×4, 5×6) and skipper Devdutt Padikkal’s ninth (148 batting, 236b, 16×4, 2×6) to rack up 355 for two.

First-time semifinalist Uttarakhand will now be hoping that when it eventually bats, the pitch stays as true as it did on day one.

There was the odd ball that bounced disconcertingly and a few that seamed, but none too dangerous. And Rahul and Padikkal feasted, putting on a grand 278-run partnership after Mayank Agarwal was caught early in the slips.

Rahul was reprieved on 47 when wicket-keeper Saurabh Rawat missed a stumping off an arm ball from Mayank Mishra (18-1-88-0), and survived a half-chance on 136 when the cherry fell short of the slip fielder. But for those moments, and until a leading edge led to his downfall, his stay was chanceless.

The 33-year-old drove beautifully, pulled efficiently and danced down the track in a sure-footed manner. The half-century came in 86 balls when he cut pacer Aditya Rawat to the point boundary. The hundred was raised in 153 deliveries, his second consecutive ton after the match-winning 130 against Mumbai in the quarters.

Padikkal was no less enthralling. He started off with two fine cuts off Aditya before peppering every other part of the ground. The 50 came off just 65 balls and the century milestone was passed with a one-handed six – two definitive signs of the day’s ease.