<p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>The match will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from January 30.</p>.Ranji Trophy: Karnataka's 'transition' to title.<p>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.</p><p>With Kaverappa returning to the playing XI, left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty will have to sit out the final league match. </p><p>Meanwhile, KV Aneesh will make way for Rahul, though it is not yet clear in which position the 32-year-old batter will bat.</p><p>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.</p>.Ranji Trophy: Karnataka complete the kill despite Gill.<p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>
<p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>The match will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from January 30.</p>.Ranji Trophy: Karnataka's 'transition' to title.<p>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.</p><p>With Kaverappa returning to the playing XI, left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty will have to sit out the final league match. </p><p>Meanwhile, KV Aneesh will make way for Rahul, though it is not yet clear in which position the 32-year-old batter will bat.</p><p>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.</p>.Ranji Trophy: Karnataka complete the kill despite Gill.<p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>