CRICKET | TN eases past Maharashtra for C.K. Nayudu Trophy title

Tamil Nadu secures its first C.K. Nayudu Trophy title, defeating Maharashtra by seven wickets in the final.

Tamil Nadu clinched its maiden Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy title, chasing down 66 to beat Maharashtra by seven wickets on the third day of the final at the NPR College Cricket Ground here on Wednesday.

In doing so, it completed a double, having already lifted the BCCI men’s u-23 State-A (One-Day) Trophy this season.

Earlier in the day, Kiran Karthikeyan’s influence continued after his innings. Having been the last man out for 86 (207b, 9x4) in Tamil Nadu’s 334, which secured a first-innings lead of 96, he ran out opener Vicky Ostwal at the striker’s end with a sharp piece of fielding from backward square leg on the second ball of Maharashtra’s second innings (161).

That winning feeling 🏆👏Captain Boopathi Kumar and the Tamil Nadu team celebrate after emerging victorious in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy Elite 2025-26 🙌Scorecard - https://t.co/gwz1Gkda8i@IDFCFIRSTBank | @TNCACricketpic.twitter.com/qtwbhHx97C

Left-arm spinners Sachin Rathi and P. Vignesh took three wickets each. Sachin (three for 57) had skipper Sachin Dhas (25) miscue to mid-off, Arshin Kulkarni (44) top-edge a slog sweep to wide mid-on, and Kiran Chormale (4) edge to slip. Vignesh had Digvijay Patil (6) and Ajay Borude (8) caught behind, while Vaibhav Darkunde (7) holed out to deep square leg.

Off-spinner Mohamed Ali (two for 18) trapped Harsh U. Mogaveera (3) leg before and had Sahil Autade (1) caught off his own bowling. Fellow off-spinner Manav Parakh had top-scorer Niraj Joshi (55, 129b, 3x4, 1x6) caught at silly point.