Kerala makes history, enters maiden Ranji semi final
Wayanad (Kerala), Jan 17: Scripting history, Kerala stormed into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy for the first time with a 113-run win over Gujarat on the third day of their quarterfinal match here Thursday.
This is the first time that the Kerala team has entered the last four stage of the prestigious domestic cricket tournament in over six decades.
In the 2017-'18 season, the state made its maiden entry into the quarterfinal, but lost to Vidarbha.
In the semifinal, Kerala will take on the winner of the Vidarbha-Uttarakhand match.
Requiring 195 for a win, Gujarat was shot out for 81 in 31.3 overs as Basil Thampi (5 for 27) and Sandeep Warrier (4 for 30) wrecked the strong rival batting line-up.
A jubilant Kerala captain Sachin Baby said he believed the team can do well in the semifinal.
"We lost to Vidarbha last time, but I believe we can turn up better and beat them this time," he added.
On the match against Gujarat, he said scoring 185 in the first innings was crucial.
"Scoring 185 was a big total on this wicket and that proved to be important," Baby said looking forward to the side's first ever semifinal.
Kerala coach Dav Whatmore, who helped Sri Lanka win the 50-overs World Cup in 1996, said he was delighted with the team's performance.
He lauded the performance of the players, especially the bowlers and all-rounder Jalaj Saxena.
Thampi and Warrier did a fantastic job, he added.
Earlier, Gujarat got off to a shaky start losing opener Kathan D Patel and Priyank Panchal in the sixth over itself.
Patel was bowled by Thampi, who then struck a big blow in the last ball of the same over, trapping the prolific Panchal (3) to leave the visitors tottering at 10 for 2.
Left-hander Rahul Shah was the lone batsman to offer resistance with a fighting knock of 33 not out (70 balls, 4X4).
Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel, probably the biggest threat for Kerala, was run out for a duck due to a brilliant piece of fielding by his opposite number (Sachin Baby) with a direct hit from mid-on.
Dhruv Raval (17) was the only Gujarat batsman other than Shah to get into double figures as the visiting side struggled on a pitch that offered varied bounce.
The fifth-wicket partnership of 39 between Shah and Raval was the highest of the Gujarat second innings as the rest of the batting line-up failed to negotiate the impressive Thampi and Warrier.
Thampi, who was named man of the match, and Warrier finished with a match haul of eight wickets each.
Brief scores: Kerala 185 and 171 all out (Sijomon Joseph 56, Jalaj Saxena 44 not out, Roosh Kalaria 3 for 36, Axar Patel 3 for 40)
Gujarat 162 all out (Parthiv Patel 43, Roosh Kalaria 36, Sandeep Warrier 4 for 42, M D Nidheesh 3 for 38, Basil Thampi 3 for 61) and 81 all out in 31.3 overs (Rahul Shah 33 not out, Basil Thampi 5 for 27, Sandeep Warrier 4 for 30).
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India needs steady hand at the wheel but has 'compromised PM': Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): A day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast, the Congress on Thursday questioned the government's silence with Rahul Gandhi saying that while the country needed a steady hand at the wheel, it has a "compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy".
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Modi government's "reckless abdication" of India's strategic and national interests is there for all to see.
"An Iranian ship, a guest of India was returning, unarmed from the International Fleet Review 2026, hosted by us, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement of concern or condolence. PM Modi remains mute," Kharge said on X.
"Why lecture us on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India being a 'Net Security Provider' in the IOR, when you can’t react on what is happening in your own backyard? As many as 38 Indian Flag commercial ships along with 1100 sailors are stuck in Gulf of Hormuz," he said.
"Indian sailors, including Captain Ashish Kumar have reportedly died. Why is there no maritime rescue or relief operation in place? You say only 25 days of crude and oil stocks left. With rising oil prices, what is our energy contingency plan, especially in the wake of GOI virtually accepting the demand to stop import of Russian oil? What about the trade of other key commodities with the gulf countries?" the Congress chief said.
As per MEA statement on March 3, "some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing", he said.
"There are one crore Indians in the gulf region countries. Medical students are releasing desperate video messages seeking help. How is the GOI securing their well-being? Is there any evacuation plan in place from the affected areas?" Kharge said.
"Clearly, Modi Ji's SURRENDER is both political and moral! It demeans India’s core national interests and destroys our foreign policy carefully and painstakingly built and followed by successive governments over the years!" Kharge said.
Gandhi said the world has entered a volatile phase and "stormy seas lie ahead"
"India's oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG," he said on X.
"The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing," Gandhi said.
At a moment like this, India needs a steady hand at the wheel, he said.
"Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy," Gandhi alleged.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also said maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran.
In a significant escalation of the West Asia crisis, a US submarine on Wednesday torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast when it was returning after participating in the Milan naval exercise, a multilateral wargame hosted by India.
In a post on X, Ramesh said the Indian Navy's flagship multilateral exercise, MILAN, was first held in 1995 and the 13th edition was held in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to February 25, 2026 with 18 warships from other countries, including the USA and Iran participating.
The exercise was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramesh pointed out.
"This makes yesterday's sinking of the Iranian warship that took part in the Milan exercise by a US Navy submarine in the Indian Ocean some 40 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka all the more extraordinary. The Iranian warship was on its way back home," he said.
This US action has enormous implications for India as well and it is shocking that there has been no official response to it till now, Ramesh said.
"Maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran. Never before has the Indian government looked so timid and fearful," the Congress leader said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, confirming the strike, said at a Pentagon media briefing that it was the first sinking of an enemy warship by a torpedo since World War II.
The Associated Press, quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, reported that 87 bodies were recovered and that 32 people were rescued following the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena.
The incident marks a major escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf and throws up questions relating to maritime security in the Indian Ocean that is largely considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy.
The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In the last few days, the conflict has widened significantly with attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
India has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
