The Ranji Trophy always delivers its share of drama, and the 2024-25 season has already given us some unforgettable contests. But few games were as one-sided — and yet so revealing — as the clash between Punjab Cricket Team Vs Karnataka Cricket Team in Elite Group C.
Played at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, this match wasn’t just another fixture; it was a showcase of Karnataka’s dominance and Punjab’s struggles. By the end, Karnataka walked away with an innings and 207-run victory, leaving cricket fans buzzing.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded — from Punjab’s early collapse to Karnataka’s batting masterclass, and finally, to the complete scorecard highlights.
Match Overview
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Series: Ranji Trophy Elite 2024-25
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Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
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Dates: January 23 – 25, 2025
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Result: Karnataka won by an innings and 207 runs
This was more than a win. It was a statement. Karnataka showed discipline with the ball, grit with the bat, and depth in every department.
Day 1: Punjab’s Batting Collapse
Winning the toss usually gives you an edge. Unfortunately for Punjab, electing to bat first backfired badly. The pitch offered some early seam movement, and Karnataka’s pace trio — V Koushik, Abhilash Shetty, and Prasidh Krishna — made full use of it.
Punjab never looked settled. By the 29th over, they were all out for just 55 runs. That’s not a scorecard you want to remember, but here’s what it looked like:
Punjab 1st Innings (55 all out, 29 overs)
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Ramandeep Singh: 16 (top scorer)
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Markande: 12
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Shubman Gill (c): 4
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Extras: 11
Bowling Heroes for Karnataka:
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V Koushik: 11-4-16-4
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Abhilash Shetty: 9-4-19-3
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Prasidh Krishna: 8-3-11-2
It was disciplined bowling at its finest — no freebies, consistent pressure, and smart use of the conditions.
Karnataka’s Response: A Batting Masterclass
If Punjab’s innings was a collapse, Karnataka’s reply was a complete contrast. Their batters looked comfortable, confident, and ruthless.
The star of the show? Smaran Ravichandran. His knock of 203 runs off 277 balls was a mix of patience and aggression, setting the tone for Karnataka’s dominance.
Supporting contributions came from almost everyone — Aneesh KV (33), Devdutt Padikkal (27), Abhinav Manohar (34), and even the lower order chipped in.
Karnataka 1st Innings (475 all out, 122.1 overs)
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Smaran Ravichandran: 203
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Abhinav Manohar: 34
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Shreyas Gopal: 31
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Extras: 23
Punjab Bowling Effort:
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Jassinder Singh: 17-1-66-3
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Markande: 16.1-0-53-3
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Gurnoor Brar: 29-4-125-2
Punjab’s bowlers toiled hard but couldn’t contain the relentless batting.
Punjab’s Fightback in the Second Innings
To their credit, Punjab didn’t go down without some resistance in their second innings. This time, their captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a fighting 102 off 171 balls. His strokeplay was crisp, and he showed the temperament that has made him a rising star in Indian cricket.
But cricket is a team game — and Gill found little support. Wickets kept tumbling around him, and despite some late fireworks from Sukhdeep Bajwa (26*) and Gurnoor Brar (12 off 5), Punjab folded for 213 runs.
Punjab 2nd Innings (213 all out, 63.4 overs)
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Shubman Gill: 102
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Mayank Markande: 27
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Sukhdeep Bajwa: 26*
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Extras: 10
Karnataka Bowling Again Dominates:
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Yashovardhan Parantap: 13-3-37-3
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Shreyas Gopal: 3.4-1-19-3
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Prasidh Krishna: 15-3-57-2
Gill’s century deserved applause, but it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit.
Final Result
Karnataka beat Punjab by an innings and 207 runs.
That margin says it all. Karnataka’s balance of bowling firepower and batting depth was too much for Punjab to handle.
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Key Highlights You Shouldn’t Miss
Here are 7 things cricket fans will remember from this clash:
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Punjab’s 55 all out in the first innings — a collapse that set the tone.
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Smaran Ravichandran’s 203 — a knock of maturity and dominance.
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Karnataka’s disciplined bowling, led by V Koushik’s 4-wicket haul.
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Shubman Gill’s lone warrior century in the second innings.
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Karnataka’s ability to score big and keep the pressure on.
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Punjab’s inability to build partnerships in either innings.
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The sheer margin of victory — one of the most commanding in recent Ranji history.
Why This Match Matters in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25
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For Karnataka: This win boosts their confidence and net run rate, strengthening their position in Elite Group C.
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For Punjab: The defeat highlights weaknesses in batting depth and strategy. Shubman Gill’s century was a silver lining, but Punjab needs more consistent contributions.
Matches like this also remind us why the Ranji Trophy remains the backbone of Indian cricket. Performances here often shape future national call-ups.
Keyword Recap (For Fans Searching the Scorecard)
If you were looking for the Punjab Cricket Team vs Karnataka Cricket Team Match Scorecard (Ranji Trophy 2024-25), here’s the quick summary:
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Punjab: 55 & 213
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Karnataka: 475
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Result: Karnataka won by an innings and 207 runs
FAQs
Q1: Who was the top scorer in the match?
Smaran Ravichandran with 203 runs for Karnataka.
Q2: Who took the most wickets?
V Koushik, with 5 wickets across both innings.
Q3: Where was the match played?
At M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Q4: What was Punjab’s first-innings score?
Just 55 runs in 29 overs.
Q5: What was the final result?
Karnataka won by an innings and 207 runs.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a win for Karnataka — it was a statement of intent in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. With a mix of batting firepower and bowling depth, they look like serious contenders this season.
Punjab, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly. Shubman Gill’s hundred was brilliant, but unless the rest of the batting unit steps up, they’ll find it tough to compete against strong teams.
For cricket fans, this match was a reminder of why domestic cricket is so exciting: you get collapses, centuries, drama, and dominant victories — all in one game.
