Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Karnataka secures knockout spot after thrashing Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu beats Tripura

Karnataka proved it was equally proficient in defending totals as it was at chasing targets and chalked out a 150-run win over Rajasthan to book a spot in the knockout round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket tournament at the Gujarat College ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

The in-form openers Mayank Agarwal (100,109b,9×4,3×6) and Devdutt Padikkal (91, 82b, 12×4, 2×6) forged another century alliance as Karnataka cantered briskly to reach 184 in 28.2 overs. However, Padikkal missed out on his fifth century of the tournament as Manav Suthar bowled him with a faster delivery when the batter aimed for a cut.

Mayank, who was dropped by Aditya Rathore at midwicket fence on 50 off Suthar, scored his second hundred of the tournament but holed out soon after reaching the landmark. Karnataka then lost wickets regularly as Rajasthan came back to restrict Karnataka to a much lesser total.

Rajasthan was never in the hunt after losing its top-order in the PowerPlay. Shreyas Gopal castled the dangerous Deepak Hooda for 29. Karan Lamba attacked the spinners to score 55 but fell trying another big hit off left-arm spinner Sreesha Achar. Prasidh Krishna returned to wipe out the lower order to give Karnataka a comprehensive win.

ALSO READ | Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Aman Rao double ton helps Hyderabad cruise to win against Bengal

Vishnu Vinod sledgehammered Pondicherry to take Kerala to an eight-wicket win to keep its knockout hopes alive. Vishnu batted like a man possessed to smash 14 sixes in his unbeaten knock of (162 n.o., 84b, 13×4, 14×6) as Kerala overhauled a target of 253 with 21 overs to spare. B. Aparajith remained unbeaten on 63 and helped Vishnu add 222 for the second wicket. Earlier, Pondicherry lost its last five wickets for just 16 runs as Kerala medium pacers M.D. Nidheesh (four for 41) and Eden Apple Tom (two for 33) wreaked havoc.

Tamil Nadu clinched a much-needed win when it beat Tripura by 54 runs. Medium pacer Gurjapneet Singh (six for 26) was central to Tamil Nadu’s win as Tripura, chasing a target of 260, was dismissed for 205 in 42.4 overs. Gurjapneet scuppered Tripura’s chase by picking three wickets in his first spell and then came back to polish the tail in his second.

Published on Jan 06, 2026