Padikkal's 120* Bashes Punjab as Karnataka Reach Ranji Trophy QFs in Mohali
Padikkal's 120* Bashes Punjab as Karnataka Reach Ranji Trophy QFs in Mohali
Padikkal’s unbeaten 120 powers Karnataka to a dramatic five-wicket win over Punjab, booking a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal with Mumbai in Mohali.
Padikkal’s captaincy tenure began with a blockbuster as he conjured an unbeaten 120 off 85 balls to power Karnataka to a five-wicket win over Punjab at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali. After three-and-a-half days of slow cricket, Karnataka chased 250 off 40 overs and reached the target in under 28 overs to seal a quarterfinal date with Mumbai.
Promoted to the leadership role after a rough patch in Madhya Pradesh, Padikkal opened the batting in place of Mayank Agarwal and set the tone with a 76-ball 113-run partnership for the second wicket with his senior partner. His intent was evident in the shots he played: a steady march toward fifty, followed by a boundary-laden surge that pushed Karnataka toward the finish line. He remained not out as Vidyadhar Patil joined him, adding an unbroken 51 in 28 balls to close the chase in comfortable fashion.
Shreyas Gopal chipped in with a brisk 33 off 22, and Karnataka’s bowlers then did the rest, stifling Punjab to a challenging total despite some late-life resistance. Punjab even tried some time-wasting tactics, but Padikkal’s audacious strokeplay, and Karnataka’s disciplined ballfighting, did away with any doubts about the result. The win earned Karnataka a knockout clash with Mumbai, reshaping the Elite Group-B standings and eliminating Saurashtra from contention after their earlier results.
