Bowlers hold key as Jammu & Kashmir face Kerala in Ranji Trophy Quarterfinal

Pune, February 07: Jammu and Kashmir, riding high on confidence after impressive performances on red-soil pitches, are set to take on Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 quarterfinal. Having defeated Mumbai and Baroda on similar surfaces, the team hopes to make the most of another red-soil track when the match begins at the MCA Stadium.

On Friday morning, as both teams arrived at the venue, Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya and captain Sachin Baby were among the first to inspect the pitch. Soon after, J&K skipper Paras Dogra followed suit. The tinge of green on the surface suggested that bowlers could have an advantage early on, making the toss crucial for both sides.

While Kerala will have to adapt quickly to the conditions, J&K enter the contest with momentum on their side. The team’s familiarity with red-soil pitches gives them an edge and experienced batter Shubham Khajuria is optimistic.

“By the looks of it, the surface should support our brand of cricket, and having played in such conditions earlier, we have a good chance,” The Hindu quoted Khajuria.

J&K’s bowling attack will be led by pacers Umar Nazir Mir and Auqib Nabi, while off-spinner Sahil Lotra will be the key player to watch. Lotra played a crucial role in the team's previous match against Baroda, taking 11 wickets in the game to help secure their quarterfinal spot. His ability to exploit spin-friendly conditions could be vital to J&K’s success.

However, the middle order remains a concern for J&K. While Shubham Khajuria has been in good form, the team has lacked consistency in the middle overs. Kanhaiya Wadhawan showed promise in the last game with a gritty half-century, but others in the lineup will need to step up.

For Kerala, Rohan Kunnummal will be expected to convert his starts into big scores, while the batting will revolve around captain Sachin Baby, Shoun Roger, and Salman Nizar, who recently scored a 150 against Bihar. Given the pitch conditions, fast bowlers MD Nidheesh and Basil NP will be crucial in the early overs, while all-rounder Jalaj Saxena will be expected to play a key role with both bat and ball.

With both teams aware of the challenges posed by the conditions, the quarterfinal is set to be a gripping contest where bowlers could determine the

outcome.