Maharashtra didn't have the best start to their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign. Playing their first match against Kerala at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the team saw them lose three wickets even before they could open their account. This was after Kerala won the toss and invited Maharashtra to bat first.
The first batter to depart was Prithvi Shaw, who had shown major signs of comeback before the tournament began. Shaw was dismissed for a four-ball duck by MD Nidheesh, who trapped him LBW.
Siddhesh Veer followed suit in the next delivery as he was caught-behind by Mohammed Azharuddeen for a golden duck. The wicket-keeper is also the captain of the Kerala unit.
The carnage continued in the next over bowled by Nedumankuzhy Basil, who removed Shaw's opening partner Arshin Kulkarni for a golden duck in the first ball of the second over. Both Shaw and Kulkarni had recently slammed tons each in the warm-up match against Mumbai leading to the premier domestic red-ball competition. The match, however, made news for an on-field altercation between Prithvi Shaw and Musheer Khan, which occurred after the latter dismissed the controversial India star for 181.
Maharasthra then finally opened their account but were hit with another inroad in the fourth over of the innings bowled by Basil. He castled Maharashtra skipper Ankit Bawne for a seven-ball duck.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and wicketkeeper-batter Saurabh Nawale then took the total to 18 before tragedy struck once again as Maharashtra lost half their side with just 18 runs on the board. Nidheesh registered his third wicket of the innings, this time trapping Nawale LBW for 12(23).
Gaikwad and Jalaj Saxena are present in the middle as Maharashtra hope for a revival from the pair. Rajneesh Gurbani, Vicky Ostwal, Mukesh Choudhary, and Ramakrishna Ghosh are the batters remaining in the middle.
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