Day one of the Ranji Trophy semifinal belonged entirely to Karnataka, who posted 355/2 against Uttarakhand at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. Captain Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten 148 and KL Rahul’s 141 formed the backbone of a clinical batting effort after Uttarakhand chose to bowl.
The loss of Mayank Agarwal for 5 at 18 sparked brief concerns, but Rahul and Padikkal’s 278-run second-wicket stand erased them. Rahul, cheered by celebrities Sunil Shetty and Ahan Shetty in the stands, crafted 141 runs in 211 balls with 11 boundaries and 5 sixes—extending his quarterfinal century streak.
Rawat ended Rahul’s stay with a caught-and-bowled effort, but Padikkal marched on relentlessly. His 236-ball vigil yielded 16 fours and 2 sixes for 148 not out. Karun Nair, unbeaten on 37 (65 balls, 5×4, 1×6), complemented him with a quick 59-run partnership.
Uttarakhand grabbed both wickets through Rawat, but Karnataka’s depth shone through. The eight-time champions plot a declaration strategy for day two, while newcomers Uttarakhand grapple with the weight of their debut semifinal.