Karnataka outclassed Mumbai in a tense chase, KL Rahul’s century anchored the win, Bengal piled up a massive total against Andhra, and Jammu and Kashmir booked a landmark semi-final spot. In the Karnataka vs Mumbai result, Rahul’s composed hundred proved decisive, while the Andhra vs Bengal score ballooned past 600 thanks to marathon batting. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir’s semi-final qualification marked a first in their history, turning the tournament knockout matches into a round defined by experience, endurance, and breakthroughs.
Rahul Anchors the Fourth-Innings Chase in Ranji Trophy
Karnataka used a strategic approach in beating Mumbai by controlling their ability to be patient rather than aggressive during the game. On the final day, they needed 325 runs to win the match and started the day needing 212 with eight wickets remaining, a time when the need for the batting team and fielding team to be patient was evident due to the wear of the pitch.
KL Rahul’s century in the Ranji Trophy knock (130) provided a great foundation for his side. With 14 fours and a six, he played some very cautious shots that were designed to limit his risks while batting with the new ball. Smaran Ravichandran’s 83 was also of great use in helping support Rahul as he and Ravichandran put on a 147-run partnership together. The combination of these two players from Karnataka placed their team ahead of the Mumbai team, which made it impossible for the Mumbai bowlers to get back into the game.
Karnataka’s lower-order batsmen were able to finish off the game smoothly even after losing two early wickets, which led to a small collapse. It was evident from this point on that there was a big difference in tactics, by rotating the strike to create scoring opportunities, by avoiding a collapse at the end of the innings, and forcing bowlers to be placed in a defensive line.
Bengal’s Marathon Batting Dominance
The Andhra vs Bengal score reflected a grind typical of first-class cricket at its most punishing. Bengal amassed 629, powered by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s extraordinary 299 off 596 balls.
The batting effort that took place within those innings drained time and energy from Andhra’s bowlers. In the same time frame but with different paces, Shakir Habib Gandhi (95) and Mohammed Shami (53) created two different kinds of momentum, one for consistency and one for speed.
Bengal then had complete control of the playing conditions when they were leading by 334 runs. The scoreboard pressure had Andhra in trouble at 64-3 in their second innings. It wasn’t as much about flair and more about how long you could hit the ball to create a high mountain and then let the pressure mount.
Jammu & Kashmir Script History
Few predicted Jammu and Kashmir would be among the semi-finalists, yet their disciplined bowling sealed a 56-run win over Madhya Pradesh.
The bowlers dominated play, and when M.P. were left at 76/5 without any realistic chance of chasing down the total, Auqib Nabi Dar’s 12 for 110 was the key that turned the game around. A gritty 64 from Saransh Jain showed spirit as he alone battled against relentless seam bowling.
In contrast to the other two games, in which batting clearly dominated the outcome, this game was won due to the unrelenting ability of both teams to deliver accurate deliveries consistently. This proves that in knockout cricket, it is often better to be consistent than to be extravagant.
Knockout Trends and Tactical Signals
Across the knockout matches, three patterns emerged:
- Anchoring partnerships matter in fourth-innings chases
- Long batting sessions create scoreboard dominance
- Early bowling strikes decide pressure games
Teams that avoided collapses and managed conditions rather than chasing quick runs advanced.
The quarter-final results also prove the lesson is obvious: Knockout games are about experience, being patient, and playing tactically. Rahul’s calmness gave Karnataka its advantage; steady accumulation allowed Bengal to get into the position it did; and a good, decisive bowling spell for Jammu & Kashmir made all the difference in their win.