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Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Karnataka coach Vinay Kumar ready to help inexperienced players get used to pressures of First-Class cricket

Former championship-winning skipper Vinay Kumar is embarking on his inaugural season as the head coach of Karnataka. His primary objective is to mentor younger squad members as they navigate the intensity of the First-Class circuit, especially with the team missing several key players due to injuries and national team commitments.

Key figures like KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and R. Smaran are unavailable for the upcoming match against Andhra, while frontline bowlers Prasidh Krishna, V.

Vyshak, and Vidwath Kaverappa are sidelined. To bolster the leadership group, veterans such as Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, and Shreyas Gopal will assist in guiding the newer talent.

The team aims to break a title drought that has persisted since their consecutive victories in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

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