Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Sai Kishore brings Tamil Nadu back into contest as batters struggle to score
After the visitor dismissed the host for 165, taking a 19-run first-innings lead, Sai Kishore & Co. returned the favour, getting nine Railways wickets for 107 runs.
Runs came at a premium on Tuesday. Sixteen wickets fell at the MAC Stadium on Day 2, with the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D fixture between Tamil Nadu and Railways hurtling towards an early finish.
After the visitor dismissed the host for 165, taking a 19-run first-innings lead, Sai Kishore & Co. returned the favour, getting nine Railways wickets for 107 runs.
At stumps, Bhargav Merai’s men were ahead by 126 runs.
While Railways left-arm spinner Raj Choudhary (five for 41) and off-spinner Toufik Mondal (four for 48) made full use of the pitch’s aid, Tamil Nadu’s B. Indrajith put on an exhibition of batting against spin.
The No. 4 batter scored 59 patient runs (167b, 1x4) even as his partners made a steady procession back to the dugout.
Indrajith found an able ally in J. Hemchudeshan (26, 56b, 2x4, 1x6), their ninth-wicket stand contributing fifty invaluable runs.
Indrajith eventually fell to Raj, signalling the tweaker’s five-for and the end of the Tamil Nadu innings.
Sai Kishore took it upon himself to bring the home side back into the game. And he succeeded, with figures of four for 38. Young off-spinner Hemchudeshan played the supporting act to perfection with the ball as well (15-5-21-3).
Railways’ Raj Choudhary picked a five-wicket haul to bowl Tamil Nadu out for 165. | Photo Credit: R. RAGU
Zubair Ali Khan, Railways’ first-innings hero, was dropped by Andre Siddarth at short-leg, the ball flying fast towards the close-in fielder. But his luck ran out when S. Ajith Ram castled him, making him the left-arm spinner’s 100th First-Class victim.
At the other end, opener S. Yuvraj Singh (42, 155b, 2x4) put a hefty price on his wicket, playing well within himself. When Hemchudeshan bowled Yuvraj for his third wicket, the visitor’s scorecard read 100 for nine in 48.3 overs.
With just one Railways wicket left, the target should not be too big for Tamil Nadu. But then again, runs have been hard to come by.
Published on Oct 27, 2026
Latest on Sportstar
Live Blog 2026-10-27T13:35:27+05:30South Africa vs Australia LIVE score, 3rd Test Day 1 updates: SA loses four wickets in second sessionSportstar News Desk
High Court halts BFI meeting called by suspended Secretary General proposing no-confidence motion against PresidentSportstar News Desk
NZ vs IND, 3rd T20I: Abhishek’s 35-ball hundred mauls New Zealand as India clinches series PTI
