Padikkaltakes over captaincy as Karnataka rings in the changes

Karnataka’s dispiriting 217-run home defeat to Madhya Pradesh (MP) in the Ranji Trophy last week has triggered an avalanche of changes, with the removal of Mayank Agarwal from captaincy the chief among them.

Devdutt Padikkal will be at the helm for the last group-stage encounter against Punjab beginning this Thursday. It will be a high-stakes match for Karnataka (21 points), for the eight-time Ranji champion is now involved in a four-way fight with Maharashtra (24), MP (22) and Saurashtra (19) for the two knock-out berths.

Mayank has not been in good form this Ranji season, totalling just 298 runs from nine innings. Amit Verma, who took over as chief selector just last month, stated that the decision was made to unburden the 34-year-old and help him focus on his batting.

For Padikkal, 25, the first foray into the leadership role will be a big step up. He was in scintillating form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 725 runs at an average of 90.62. But in the semifinal against Vidarbha, he made just four, and he was out for a pair versus MP.

It also remains to be seen if Karnataka sees Padikkal as the long-term option. Though Verma said that he was not a stop-gap arrangement, the southpaw has been part of India’s red-ball set-up in recent times and is a regular in the India-A outfits. A skipper who goes in and out of the squad may not always be ideal.

Among the other changes ahead of the Punjab game is the return of National team players K.L. Rahul and Prasidh Krishna, and R. Smaran. Left-hander Smaran, who has amassed 595 runs this Ranji edition, sat out of both the Vijay Hazare semifinal and MP fixture with a shoulder niggle.

Karnataka will however miss the services of Karun Nair (614 runs), who split his webbing against MP and was unable to bat in the second innings. Speedster V. Vyshak, who sustained a hamstring injury, is also unavailable.

The out-of-form Abhinav Manohar (231 runs) has been dropped for talented youngster Dhruv Prabhakar.

The squad: Devdutt Padikkal (Capt.), Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, K.V. Aneesh, R. Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna, M. Venkatesh, Vidyadhar Patil, Vidwath Kaverappa, Prasidh Krishna, Mohsin Khan, Shikhar Shetty, K.L. Shrijith & Dhruv Prabhakar.