Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy campaign faces a leadership void as vice-captain KL Rahul and newly appointed captain Ravichandran Smaran will miss the state’s Round 2 clash against Saurashtra to join the India A squad in New Zealand. The two, along with Devdutt Padikkal, are set to depart for the unofficial Test series beginning October 24, leaving Karnataka scrambling for a replacement skipper.
With the match scheduled from October 18 to 21 at the Platinum Oval in Alur, the absence of key players could further complicate Karnataka’s recovery after a drawn opener against Andhra, where Smaran’s 126 and Karun Nair’s unbeaten 155 fell short of a result amid heavy scoring by Andhra’s bowlers (418 conceded). Potential interim captains include Nair, in-form all-rounder Shreyas Gopal, or senior opener Mayank Agarwal, though the Karnataka State Cricket Association has yet to finalize the squad for the fixture.
The India A tour, led by Dhruv Jurel, serves as a preparatory assignment ahead of the senior team’s upcoming series. The squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar, with Rishabh Pant’s participation pending fitness clearance.
Karnataka’s search for a temporary leader comes as they aim to stabilize after a shaky start to the season, with the Platinum Oval match offering a critical opportunity to regroup before the next phase of the tournament.
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