Karnataka need nothing less than a win against Haryana in their last league encounter.
Credit: DH Photo/SK Dinesh
Bengaluru: A fit-again medium pacer, Vidwath Kaverappa, will provide an edge to Karnataka’s pace attack in their final and crucial Ranji Trophy tie against Haryana.
The team’s batting will also be bolstered by the return of India batter KL Rahul, who is expected to join his teammates and resume practice from Tuesday.
The match will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from January 30.
Karnataka, who raised their hopes of qualifying for the knockouts with a bonus-point win over Punjab, need to replicate that performance to ensure their progress.
With Kaverappa returning to the playing XI, left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty will have to sit out the final league match.
Meanwhile, KV Aneesh will make way for Rahul, though it is not yet clear in which position the 32-year-old batter will bat.
Kaverappa, who -- according to State senior selection chief J Abhiram -- has been cleared by the National Cricket Academy, last played a competitive game in September 2023 before a shin injury flared up again during the Duleep Trophy.
Rahul last played for Karnataka in February 2020 in a Ranji Trophy match against Bengal in Kolkata. His most recent domestic first-class appearance was in the Duleep Trophy in September 2023.
While Haryana, with 26 points, look safe for the moment, they are still in a three-way contest for the two quarterfinal slots from Group C.
A bonus-point win for both Karnataka and Kerala could well knock Haryana out. In this scenario, Kerala, with 28 points, will sail through as group toppers, while Karnataka, who enjoy a better run quotient (1.294 compared to Haryana’s 1.225), will sneak in as the second-placed team.
The best-case scenario for Karnataka would be a simple win against Haryana and for Kerala to earn no more than three points against Bihar.