 "Jammu and Kashmir batter Vivrant Sharma in action in Ranji Trophy. Image: PTI")
Controversy erupted on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy clash between Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Baroda at the Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, as J&K refused to bat in their second innings. Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda, and Mumbai were locked in a three-way battle for qualification to the knockout stages from Group A, with only two teams from each group set to advance.
Why J&K refused to bat in their second innings?
Jammu and Kashmir accused the Baroda Cricket Association of tampering with the pitch overnight to create conditions that would favor the home team. According to J&K, the surface was altered to make it more difficult for the visiting team to bat, with the aim of ensuring an outright victory for Baroda and improving their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.
The Baroda Cricket Association quickly denied these allegations, attributing the dampness of the pitch to regular seasonal weather conditions typical in the winter months. The association stressed that such dampness was not unusual and should not be misconstrued as evidence of tampering.
As the controversy unfolded, play was delayed for approximately an hour and 25 minutes. This delay required the intervention of match referee Arjan Kripal Singh, who worked with the ground staff and the teams to resolve the issue. The match eventually resumed at 10:55 am, with J&K continuing their second innings from an overnight score of 125 for 1.
To compensate for the delay, match officials extended play by one hour beyond the scheduled close. By the time play resumed, J&K had already secured a first-innings lead and were in a strong position, with a 205-run advantage over Baroda.
However, J&K’s second innings unfolded with them being bowled out for 284, setting a target of 365 for Baroda to win. Shubham Khajuria was the top scorer for Jammu & Kashmir, making 94 runs, while wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan contributed 84. For Baroda, their spin trio of Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva, and Mahesh Pithiya each picked up three wickets.
In Baroda’s second innings, chasing a target of 365, they were bowled out for 182. Sahil Lotra was the standout bowler, claiming 7 wickets for 75 runs in 26 overs, supported by Abid Mushtaq who picked up 3 wickets for 71 runs. Despite some resistance from the middle order, including Vishnu Solanki’s 42, Baroda’s innings crumbled under sustained pressure, and they were eventually dismissed with 9 wickets falling to spin. J&K won the match by 182 runs and qualified for the knockouts.