From Irani heroics to Ranji rescue act: R Smaran keeps his run going with another big knock
As established stars in the Karnataka line-up made an early beeline for the dressing room, Smaran appeared unperturbed, batting in his own zone. His well-crafted 126 pulled the former champions out of a hole after they had slumped to 9/3.
Vijayawada, India – R Smaran, a promising cricketer, showed consistent form despite a modest season start. At the Duleep Trophy, he batted 82 runs in three innings for South Zone. However, Smaran found his groove in the Irani Cup, where he scored 68 runs before delivering a match-winning 135 runs against Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month.
Upon facing Karnataka's Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra, Smaran brought his momentum from the Irani Cup into Karnataka's team, despite being the leader in Devdutt Padikkal's absence. Smaran scored 126 runs, helping Karnataka recover from a shaky 9/3 score. He credited his teammate KL Shrijith for his aggressive play, which shifted the pressure back onto Andhra.
Smaran aims to break his 1,000-run barrier this season, but he remains focused on contributing to Karnataka's larger goal. The team's previous loss to Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy final inspired Smaran and his teammates to strive for the championship.
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