KL Rahul scored a 24th first-class ton to help Karnataka chase down a record 325 against Mumbai in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy quarter-finals.
KL Rahul steers Karnataka to record Ranji Trophy win
Set a steep target, Karnataka were jolted early in the chase when Shardul Thakur removed Mayank Agarawal in the third over. His opening partner, KL Rahul, and No.3 Devdutt Padikkal added 84 runs for the second wicket, but a sharp catch from Yashasvi Jaiswal at first slip ended the stand just before stumps, with Karnataka finishing Day 3 at 113-2.
Rahul, who had brought up his fifty off just 55 deliveries, was forced to take a more cautious approach after losing Karun Nair in just the second over of the fourth day. He took 92 deliveries to score the next 50 and brought up his hundred off 147 balls, while adding 147 runs with R Smaran for the fifth wicket.
Rahul’s dismissal for 130 by Tushar Deshpande triggered a mini collapse with Karnataka going from 266-4 to 285-6. But right-arm pacer Vidyadhar Patil held on with Smaran to see the side through without any further hiccups.
The 325-run chase was the fifth-highest successful chase in Ranji Trophy knockouts, while being the highest overall against Mumbai in the tournament’s history. The previous highest chase against Mumbai was 313-5 by Gujarat in the 2016/17 final.
Mumbai batted first in the quarter-final but could only score 120, with Akhil Herwadkar getting half of those runs. Karnataka weren’t able to capitalise and post a huge first-innings lead as they were bowled out for 173 despite Mayank Agarwal’s 92, with eight of their batters scoring in single digits.
Mumbai made a comeback in the second innings, scoring 377 to set Karnataka a tricky 325 to chase. All of their top six batters chipped in while Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande added 89 runs for the ninth wicket to take their side to a healthy total.
4th Quarter Final, Mumbai vs Karnataka
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Karnataka, eight-time Ranji Trophy winners, will now face first-time semi-finalists Uttarakhand in the last four, starting February 15. Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir, who will also play their maiden Ranji semis, will face off in the other.
Successful 300+ run-chases in Ranji Trophy knockouts
| Team | Opposition | Total | Season |
| Saurashtra | Uttar Pradesh | 372-5 | 2018/19 |
| Punjab | Bengal | 344-4 | 1992/93 |
| Manipur | Sikkim | 340-8 | 2022/23 |
| Saurashtra | Karnataka | 327-5 | 2008/09 |
| Karnataka | Mumbai | 325-6 | 2025/26 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Orissa | 315-5 | 2003/04 |
| Gujarat | Mumbai | 313-5 | 2016/17 |
| Hyderabad | Nawanagar | 310-9 | 1937/38 |
| Bengal | Karnataka | 307-4 | 2006/07 |
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