Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Lamba and Co. help Rajasthan make Tamil Nadu toil on Day 1

Karan Lamba struck an unbeaten 103 (135b, 11x4, 1x6) on his return to the Ranji Trophy after two years. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

If Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was a meditation on hope deferred, the opening day of the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy match between Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday was a story of opportunities seized when they finally arrived.

Karan Lamba struck an unbeaten 103 (135b, 11x4, 1x6) on his return to the Ranji Trophy after two years, debutant Rohan Rajbhar fell five runs short of a hundred (95, 220b, 13x4, 1x6), and Sumit Godara, drafted into the XI after Mukul Choudhary sustained an injury during the pre-match warm-up, made 49 as Rajasthan reached 286 for four. Tamil Nadu pacer P. Saravana Kumar, playing only his third Ranji match at 37, returned his best figures of three for 52.

Karan’s knock had a distinctly attacking streak. He struck three successive boundaries off debutant D. Deepesh - a square drive, a pull to long-on, and a cut - before charging Sai Kishore and lofting him over long-off for six to bring up his fifty off 45 balls. He completed his hundred off 133 balls with a back-foot square drive for four against Saravana Kumar.

Meanwhile, for 219 balls, Rohan negotiated the demands of First-Class cricket with the composure of someone who had been there before. But with a maiden hundred beckoning tantalisingly, he gloved Saravana Kumar through to the keeper, walking off the field reluctantly.

Though his innings was restrained, there were moments of adventure. Rohan stepped out to loft Sai Kishore over long-on for six, then charged him again two balls later to drive straight for four. He also brought out the sweep for a four off the left-arm spinner. He was dropped on 80 when Sai Sudharsan put down an edge at first slip off medium-pacer Nidhish Rajagopal.

Rohan added 104 runs for the second wicket with Sumit and 125 for the third with Karan.

Tamil Nadu suffered a potential setback when all-rounder Sonu Yadav hobbled off after going down at backward point while attempting to stop a cut from Mahipal Lomror.

SCORES: TN VS RAJ

Rajasthan - 1st innings: Sachin Yadav lbw b Saravana Kumar 1, Rohan Rajbhar c Jagadeesan b Saravana Kumar 95, Sumit Godara c Jagadeesan b Saravana Kumar 49, Karan Lamba (not out) 103, Kartik Sharma c Deepesh b Washington 1, Mahipal Lomror (not out) 31; Extras (lb-1, w-5): 6; Total (for four wkts. in 85 overs): 289.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-105, 3-230, 4-231.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Deepesh 13-3-54-0, Saravana Kumar 19-4-52-3, Sonu Yadav 16-3-38-0, Sai Kishore 12-0-57-0, Nidhish Rajagopal 9-2-35-0, Washington Sundar 16-2-49-1.

Toss: Rajasthan.

Published on Oct 11, 2026

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