Karun Nair scores second Ranji Trophy final century against Kerala in career-best season
Nagpur: Vidarbha batsman Karun Nair continued his impressive form in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final, scoring his second century in a Ranji Trophy final against Kerala at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, on Saturday.
Batting in the second innings on day four, Nair came in at number four after Kerala dismissed Vidarbha’s openers in the first 14 deliveries. Vidarbha had taken a 37-run lead in the first innings the previous night. Nair built a strong partnership with Danish Malewar, with whom he had shared a crucial 215-run stand in the first innings. His century, scored off 184 balls, prevented Kerala from staging a comeback.
This was Nair’s second century in a Ranji Trophy final, having previously achieved the feat in the 2014-15 season. He also surpassed 8,000 First-Class runs in this match.
For the first time in his Ranji Trophy career, the right-handed batter has scored over 800 runs in a single season. Nair made a strong comeback following a busy Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign last month, where he scored 752 runs, including five centuries in seven innings.
In Vidarbha’s last league match against Hyderabad, Nair hit a century and followed it up with another in the quarterfinal win over Tamil Nadu.
Nair first played a Ranji Trophy final in 2013-14 when Karnataka defeated Maharashtra. The following season, he was named Player of the Match in the final after scoring a record-breaking 328 against Tamil Nadu, the highest individual score in a Ranji Trophy final.
While Nair has scored over 3,700 runs for Karnataka, he also had a brief Test career for India in 2016-17, during which he became the country’s second Test triple-centurion after Virender Sehwag, scoring an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai.
Karun Nair’s Ranji Trophy final scores:
2013-14: 44, 20*
2014-15: 328 (highest individual score in a final)
2023-24: 0, 74
2024-25: 86, 100* (batting)
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Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
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Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
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Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
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The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
