<p>Bengaluru: Locked in a three-way tussle for a quarterfinal berth, Karnataka will have KL Rahul's experience to bank on in the quest for a bonus point win over table-toppers Haryana in their final league match of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C, beginning here on Thursday.</p><p>Karnataka currently have 19 points and Haryana have 26 points, but Kerala with 21 points are putting pressure on both the teams.</p>.Ranji Trophy: K L Rahul and Kaverappa return as Karnataka eye knockout berth .<p>If the former champions manage a bonus point victory (7 points) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, their tally will be swelled to 26 points.</p><p>In that scenario, the home side can enter the last eight either as the top team or the second-placed team of the group, depending on Kerala’s outing against Bihar at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.</p><p>A win even without a bonus point will take Kerala to 27 points, and they will end up as Group C leaders.</p><p>In that event, Haryana, who will stay on 26 points, will be knocked out as Karnataka will have more bonus point wins (2) to their credit than Haryana (1).</p><p>The group-toppers are decided by virtue of bonus point wins this season as against the net run rate or head-to-head record as it has been the case in the previous editions of the tournament.</p><p>If Karnataka garner six points here, then they will have 25 points and will have to hope that Kerala do not get anything more than a draw against Bihar, who will then have a maximum of 24 points.</p><p>If the match here ends in a draw and Karnataka gain first innings lead for three points, then the eight-time champions will have 22 points and will require Kerala to go down against Bihar to advance to the quarterfinal.</p><p>For Kerala and Haryana, a draw is enough to serve their purpose.</p><p><strong>Rahul boost for Karnataka</strong></p><p>This will be Rahul’s first Ranji match since 2020, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time.</p><p>Karnataka coach Yere Goud said the seasoned batter will come out at No. 3 against Haryana.</p><p>"He brings a lot of experience and also adds a lot of value to the side in all aspects of the game. We will see who (Rahul will replace in the eleven)…depending on the conditions and who suits where.</p><p>"But Rahul might be batting at number 3," Goud told reporters here.</p><p>Goud said pacer Vidwath Kaverappa has recovered well from a shin injury and will come into the eleven against Haryana.</p><p>Despite the return of two star performers, Goud remained aware of the tough challenge ahead.</p><p>“If you start with thinking of 7 points, then it's always a difficult task. We try to play as well as we can in all three departments, like we did in the last game.</p><p>“We will try to continue to do that. So, we will try to maximise and whoever gets in has to make it big and show a lot of discipline in the bowling department as well,” he added.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Locked in a three-way tussle for a quarterfinal berth, Karnataka will have KL Rahul's experience to bank on in the quest for a bonus point win over table-toppers Haryana in their final league match of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C, beginning here on Thursday.</p><p>Karnataka currently have 19 points and Haryana have 26 points, but Kerala with 21 points are putting pressure on both the teams.</p>.Ranji Trophy: K L Rahul and Kaverappa return as Karnataka eye knockout berth .<p>If the former champions manage a bonus point victory (7 points) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, their tally will be swelled to 26 points.</p><p>In that scenario, the home side can enter the last eight either as the top team or the second-placed team of the group, depending on Kerala’s outing against Bihar at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.</p><p>A win even without a bonus point will take Kerala to 27 points, and they will end up as Group C leaders.</p><p>In that event, Haryana, who will stay on 26 points, will be knocked out as Karnataka will have more bonus point wins (2) to their credit than Haryana (1).</p><p>The group-toppers are decided by virtue of bonus point wins this season as against the net run rate or head-to-head record as it has been the case in the previous editions of the tournament.</p><p>If Karnataka garner six points here, then they will have 25 points and will have to hope that Kerala do not get anything more than a draw against Bihar, who will then have a maximum of 24 points.</p><p>If the match here ends in a draw and Karnataka gain first innings lead for three points, then the eight-time champions will have 22 points and will require Kerala to go down against Bihar to advance to the quarterfinal.</p><p>For Kerala and Haryana, a draw is enough to serve their purpose.</p><p><strong>Rahul boost for Karnataka</strong></p><p>This will be Rahul’s first Ranji match since 2020, and it could not have come at a more appropriate time.</p><p>Karnataka coach Yere Goud said the seasoned batter will come out at No. 3 against Haryana.</p><p>"He brings a lot of experience and also adds a lot of value to the side in all aspects of the game. We will see who (Rahul will replace in the eleven)…depending on the conditions and who suits where.</p><p>"But Rahul might be batting at number 3," Goud told reporters here.</p><p>Goud said pacer Vidwath Kaverappa has recovered well from a shin injury and will come into the eleven against Haryana.</p><p>Despite the return of two star performers, Goud remained aware of the tough challenge ahead.</p><p>“If you start with thinking of 7 points, then it's always a difficult task. We try to play as well as we can in all three departments, like we did in the last game.</p><p>“We will try to continue to do that. So, we will try to maximise and whoever gets in has to make it big and show a lot of discipline in the bowling department as well,” he added.</p>