Ranji Trophy | Nikin and Shreyas deny Madhya Pradesh three points

Nikin Jose's resilient 99 saves Karnataka in Ranji Trophy opener against Madhya Pradesh, ending in a draw.

Nikin Jose’s back-to-the-wall 99 (216b, 8x4, 6x4) denied Madhya Pradesh the bragging rights over Karnataka as their 2024-25 Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener petered out to a draw at the Holkar Stadium here on Monday.

The host declared overnight on 425 for eight, giving itself a minimum of 98 overs to bowl Karnataka out and secure three points. For the visitor, gaining the lead was a far-fetched proposition, but it was the ideal opportunity to show the stomach for a fight and set the tone for the season ahead.

Nikin and Shreyas Gopal (60 n.o., 110b, 7x4, 1x6) did exactly that as they rescued Karnataka from a precarious 72 for four with a 127-run partnership. Nikin fell short of a much-deserved century, trapped leg-before on the back-foot by left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya minutes before tea.

But by then, the 24-year-old, who had endured a below-par 2023-24 campaign, had done enough, both for his team and himself. At 206 for five, bad light and a slight drizzle officially ended proceedings and gave the sides a point each.

Nikin, who opened the innings, saw offie Saransh Jain and Kartikeya bamboozle his colleagues, bowling 32 of the 37 overs in the morning session as the brand-new cherry gripped, turned and bounced.

Mayank Agarwal and Manish Pandey were both caught by the close-in fielders off Kartikeya while Devdutt Padikkal paid the price for playing back to Saransh’s delivery that slid and thudded into the pads.

Debutant R. Smaran concentrated hard (17, 51b, 1x4, 1x6), but had his off-stump rearranged by Saransh while trying to guard against the one that would hold its line.