Karnataka have made a surprising decision to remove Mayank Agarwal as captain of their Ranji Trophy side mid-season. Ahead of their final league match against Punjab in Mohali, the captaincy has been handed over to young opener Devdutt Padikkal.
Karnataka’s Ranji Season So Far
Karnataka’s performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy has been underwhelming. In Elite Group B, they have won only two out of six matches, while suffering a defeat against Madhya Pradesh. A win against Punjab is crucial for Karnataka to stay in contention for the knockout stage.
Devdutt Padikkal Takes the Reins
Padikkal, 25, who plays for RCB in the IPL, has previously represented India in two Test matches. He impressed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, helping Karnataka reach the semifinals. This match will mark his first time leading Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.
Senior Players Remain in the Squad
Although Mayank Agarwal has been removed as captain, the 34-year-old opener remains in the 15-member squad as a senior player. Agarwal has had a modest season, scoring 298 runs at an average of 33 in nine innings.
Karnataka’s team also features Indian wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, who will be playing his first Ranji match since January 2025, following his appearance against Haryana. However, senior batsman Karun Nair will miss the match due to a finger injury sustained against Madhya Pradesh.
Currently, Karnataka sit third in Group B with 21 points, behind Maharashtra (24) and Madhya Pradesh (22). A victory over Punjab is essential to keep their knockout hopes alive without depending on complicated calculations.
Karnataka Squad vs Punjab:
Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Anish KV, Devdutt Padikkal (Captain), Smaran R, Shreyas Gopal, Krittik Krishna (Wicketkeeper), Venkatesh M, Vidyadhar Patil, Vidwath Kawarappa, Prasidh M Krishna, Mohsin Khan, Shikhar Shetty, Shrijit KL (Wicketkeeper), Dhruv Prabhakar
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.