Ranji Trophy Highlights, Round 7 Day 4: Padikkal's Century Helps Karnataka Progress; Saurashtra Out

Hello, we are back with our Ranji Trophy live blog. Stay tuned for live updates and follow all the action from across the grounds throughout the day.

Bengal beat Haryana by 188 runs

Saurashtra beat Chandigarh by an innings and 46 runs

Madhya Pradesh beat Maharashtra by 133 runs

Odisha 202/8, 282 vs Jharkhand 263, leads by 221 runs

Gujarat 53/2, 352 vs Tripura 427, trails by 22 runs

Nagaland 85/4, 366 vs Andhra 536/9, trails by 85 runs

Tamil Nadu 411/7 vs Baroda 375, leads by 36 runs

Assam 224/6, 140 vs Uttarakhand 460/7, trails by 86 runs

Chhattisgarh 100/2, 283 vs Hyderabad 631, trails by 248 runs

Delhi 206/4, 221 vs Mumbai 317, leads by 110 runs

Goa 18/0, 355 vs Kerala 526/9 d, trails by 153 runs

Pondicherry 51/2, 349 vs Rajasthan, needs 121 to win

Vidarbha 91/4, 237 vs Uttar Pradesh, needs 110 to win

Himachal Pradesh 26/2, 168 vs J&K 771, trails by 577 runs

Railways 69/1, 212 vs Services, needs 229 runs to win

Punjab 117/3, 309 vs Karnataka 316, leads by 112 runs

Elsewhere on the national front, Indian team defeated New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I, to take the five-match series 4-1. The T20 WC holders, rode on Ishan Kishan's brilliant century, to post a mammoth 271 in 20 overs. In reply, the Kiwis could only muster 225.

Three matches are already underway -

• Odisha 206/8, 263 vs Jharkhand 263 - Leads by 225 runs

• Gujarat 66/3, 352 vs Tripura 427 - Trails by 9 runs 

• Nagaland 140/6, 366 vs Andhra - Trails by 26 runs

The start of Karnataka vs Punjab, day 4 has been delayed due to wet conditions on the ground from the overnight rain.

Jharkhand require 249 for victory as their openers Shikhar Mohan and Sharandeep Singh give their side a good start, adding 22 runs in seven overs. Jharkhand have a full day to chase down the score and make their case for the knockout qualification.

A Mokhade and Danish Malewar have stitched up a great partnership to pull their side out of trouble and chase down the score of 201. They required under 50 runs and have six wickets in hand against UP.

We have a result and it's Pondicherry who have beaten Rajasthan. Ajay Rohera and Aman Khan take their side towards five-wicket victory over Rajasthan.

Uttarakhand won by innings & 42 runs vs Assam

Bengal won by 188 runs vs Haryana

Saurashtra won by innings & 56 runs vs Chandigarh

Madhya Pradesh won by 133 runs vs Maharashtra

Pondicherry won by 5 wickets vs Rajasthan

Vidarbha won by 4 wickets vs Uttar Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh 26/2, 168 vs J&K 771 

Chhattisgarh 206/7, 283 vs Hyderabad 631

Delhi 338/5, 283 vs Mumbai 317 

Railways 150/3, 212 vs Services 343/9, 166/8d 

Punjab 210/6, 309 vs Karnataka 316 

Goa 122/7, 355 vs Kerala 526/9d

Baroda 36/0, 375 vs TN 449 

Jharkhand 87/2 vs Odisha

Results: 

Vidarbha beat Uttar Pradesh by four wickets 

Pondicherry beat Rajasthan by five wickets

Uttarakhand beat Assam by an innings and 42 runs

Bengal beat Haryana by 188 runs

Saurashtra beat Chandigarh by an innings and 56 runs

Madhya Pradesh beat Maharashtra by 133 runs

List of teams who have qualified from their respective groups:

• Group A: Andhra, Jharkhand and Vidarbha in contention

• Group B: MP and Saurashtra (if Karnataka does not win) 

• Group C: Bengal and Uttarakhand

• Group D: Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir

• J&K vs Himachal Pradesh - Match drawn, J&K took first innings lead

• Pondicherry beat Rajasthan by five wickets

• Uttarakhand beat Assam by an innings and 42 runs

• Bengal beat Haryana by 188 runs

• Saurashtra beat Chandigarh by an innings and 56 runs

• Madhya Pradesh beat Maharashtra by 133 runs

• Vidarbha beat Uttar Pradesh by four wickets

Delhi vs Mumbai ends in a draw with the 42-time champions already through to the next round.

Saurashtra's future depends on whether Karnataka can secure a direct win against Punjab. Ahead of the third session, Karnataka needs 198 runs to win. Devdutt Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal are out on the crease. The task is tough but not impossible. Karnataka will give their best to achieve it. They have already raced off the blocks. KL Rahul is the only one to lose his wicket as he got dismissed by Sukhdeep Bajwa.

Punjab 309, 256

Karnataka 316, 52/1 (8)

Jharkhand secure a thrilling win by 4 wickets and with it, they are through to the quarter finals along with Andhra. Jharkhand were chasing 246 against Odisha and they got over the line riding on Sharandeep Singh, Robin Minz and Anukul Roy's batting performance. With two additional points, they are through.

List of teams who have qualified from their respective groups:

• Group A: Andhra, Jharkhand

• Group B: MP and Saurashtra (if Karnataka does not win) 

• Group C: Bengal and Uttarakhand

• Group D: Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir

Karnataka's chase of 250 against Punjab is currently the most attractive match of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 round 7 as the result will decide whether of Saurashtra or Karnataka will progress to the quarterfinal. Karnataka have raced to 165/4 in 20 overs. Shreyas Gopal an Devdutt Padikkal are out on the crease.

Punjab 309, 256

Karnataka 316, 165/4 (20)

Karnataka are now only 27 runs away from a victory and a qualification. They have been alive in the chase brilliantly and a lot of credits for it has to go to Devdutt Padikkal who completes his century. Padikkal is batting on 103 (77) and Karnataka are now at the score of 223/5 in 25 overs. It is going to a be a thriller of an end to the round 7.

Punjab 309, 256

Karnataka 316, 223/5 (25)

That is an epic chase by Karnataka on the final day of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 round 7. Karnataka needed 198 runs in the third session for a direct win and they went absolutely after the Punjab bowlers and led by Devdutt Padikkal's century, they reached their target and qualified for the quarterfinal. Saurashtra, who were looking at the result of this match will be dejected as they are now eliminated.

List of teams who have qualified from their respective groups:

• Group A: Andhra, Jharkhand

• Group B: MP and Karnataka

• Group C: Bengal and Uttarakhand

• Group D: Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir

• J&K vs Himachal Pradesh - Match drawn, J&K took first innings lead

• Pondicherry beat Rajasthan by five wickets

• Uttarakhand beat Assam by an innings and 42 runs

• Bengal beat Haryana by 188 runs

• Saurashtra beat Chandigarh by an innings and 56 runs

• Madhya Pradesh beat Maharashtra by 133 runs

• Vidarbha beat Uttar Pradesh by four wickets

• Hyderabad vs Chhattisgarh - Match drawn, Hyderabad took first innings lead

• Mumbai vs Delhi - Match drawn, Mumbai took first innings lead

• Railways beat Services by 3 wickets

• Tripura defeated Gujarat by 4 Wickets

• Karnataka beat Punjab by 5 wickets

• Jharkhand defeated Odisha by 4 Wickets

• Tamil Nadu vs Baroda - Match drawn, Tamil Nadu took first innings lead

The last eight is now set

• Mumbai vs Karnataka

• Madhya Pradesh vs Jammu & Kashmir

• Bengal vs Andhra

• Jharkhand vs Uttarakhand

There was a three-way tie at the top of the Group A table. Jharkhand, Andhra and Vidarbha all ended up on 31 points. Jharkhand and Andhra qualified with more bonus points. Meanwhile, Karnataka completed a brilliant chase to pip Saurashtra into the last eight.