Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Karnataka thrashes Assam by innings and 314 runs, tops Group B

Karnataka head coach Vinay Kumar said the win felt good but maintained there were still areas for improvement.

Updated : Nov 04, 2026 18:18 IST , GUWAHATI - 3 MINS READ

After declaring at 577 for six, Karnataka bowled out Assam for 128 to secure the bonus point.  | Photo Credit: PTI

After seizing a sizable advantage over two days, Karnataka wrapped up proceedings in style with a 314-run innings win over Assam on Day 3 in the Elite Group B match at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.

After declaring at 577 for six, Karnataka bowled out Assam for 128 to secure the bonus point. With the result, the Southern heavyweights jumped to the top of the table with 16 points, while Assam remained sixth with seven points.

Earlier, the home side got off to the perfect start, getting rid of centurion KV Aneesh for 145 in the second over of the day. Spinner Roshan Alam got one to feather his outside edge into keeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar’s gloves.

At the other end, Manvanth Kumar remained undeterred and battered the Assam bowlers with some free flowing strokes. The southpaw used his feet to neutralise the turn and hit four sixes, particularly targeting the area down the ground.

Manvanth reached his second century in three games off just 108 balls before Assam was asked to bat again, with a mammoth 442-run deficit to overhaul.

The task at hand grew further out of Assam’s reach after Vidhwath Kaverappa trapped Pradyun Saikia LBW in the opening over, claiming the first wicket by a pacer in the contest.

Manvanth backed up his batting exploits by nabbing Ghadigaonkar, who chipped one to mid-off on the check drive to leave Assam at 24/2 at Lunch.

Karnataka tightened its stranglehold in the post Lunch session, as Shreyas made inroads off consecutive balls in the first over after the break.

Manvanth reached his second century in three games off just 108 balls. | Photo Credit: PTI

Captain Denish Das was the only Assam batter to score a fifty, using the counter-attack template to survive.

Denish found support from Sarupam Purkayastha and Amlanjyoti Das for a brief period, with the latter even launching Ritesh Bhatkal for two sixes in the 26th over.

However, both Sarupam and Amlanjyoti fell while trying to play one shot too many. Denish’s dismissal in the 39th over proved to be the final nail in the coffin as Karnataka cleaned up the last three wickets without conceding a run before Tea.

Shreyas finished with four wickets (4/34), while Shikhar Shetty accounted for three more to register an eight-wicket match haul (8/86).

Karnataka head coach Vinay Kumar said the win felt good but maintained there were still areas for improvement.

“We had a lot of positives in this game, especially on the batting front, batters are taking a bit of responsibility where they need to score big. And as a team, we are coming together and getting better. That is what I want as a coach,” Vinay told Sportstar.

“But there is always scope for improvement. We could have saved 15-20 runs in the first innings and a few more in the second innings with our bowling. Similarly, with the bat, I would have been very happy if Aneesh had scored a double hundred. I am really happy with the way Manvanth is playing; he has been brilliant. The bowlers are giving everything in the fourth innings, with both Kaverappa and Manvanth putting in the effort, and our catching is also getting much better. So, overall, I am not completely happy. I wouldn’t say it was our best game, but the boys are getting better,” he added.