On an overcast Thursday morning, Karun Nair had the opportunity to take centrestage once again with his imperious form. However, despite settling in after coming out in the fifth over, the red ball wasn’t quite pinging off the Vidarbha No.4’s bat on a two-paced strip at the quaint and dusty KL Saini Stadium, hosting a Ranji Trophy game after 13 winters.
The first half of the opening session was disconcerting for the Vidarbha batters after the visitors chose to bat first as left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed set up the day for Rajasthan. Keeping a close tab on proceedings from his cow-corner station was national selector Ajay Ratra. A stoic Nair had done most things right to keep Vidarbha afloat, playing only what he had to and rarely venturing towards inviting deliveries. All five of Nair’s boundaries came behind the stumps as he waited to play the ball late and under his eye.
Nair was particularly cautious on the outside half of his bat against a menacing Khaleel, whom he had whipped left and right during Vidarbha’s nine-wicket thrashing of Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final 11 days ago. But in the here and now, the pacer was the man in charge, tearing in with boundless energy and maturity.
Khaleel Ahmed in action against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy match on Friday. (Credit: RCA)
After 80 deliveries, one finally had Nair’s (39) name on it. Returning for a second spell before lunch, Khaleel nipped Vidarbha’s mainstay with one that swerved out late to the wicketkeeper taking the edge.
Pumped up, it only took Khaleel four more deliveries to land his maiden First-Class five-for, eight years after bursting onto the scene as a lanky teenager. Before leaving Vidarbha six down for 84 before lunch, Khaleel jubilantly drifted towards the makeshift dugout set up at the makeshift venue, celebrating and gesturing to head coach Rajesh Bishnoi.
“Seeing my preparation and focus. our coach told me this morning that ‘I feel you’ll get a five-wicket haul before lunch today.’ And so when it actually happened, I naturally turned to him,” a content Khaleel said after the day’s play.
Khaleel has returned on the selectors’ radar after making a full-fledged First-Class return over the last season, four years after his last Ranji appearance in 2020.
Having already made over 150 appearances in the white-ball circuit within this time, the 27-year-old has grown into his boots. Four years of inconsistency, injuries, and understanding his body better have helped him enjoy the grind of four-day cricket.
“Professionalism matters in everything you do during the jump from age-group to Ranji level. Woh seekhne mein thoda time laga hai (it took me a while learning it). Now I feel I am ready to go. There’s a lot of happiness today after the eight-year journey.”
Probably the best he’s bowled all season. Khaleel Ahmed has bagged his maiden First-Class five-wicket haul to reduce Vidarbha to 84/6 by Lunch. #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/U691QMqbFu
— Lalith Kalidas (@lal__kal) January 23, 2025
Growing maturity
Khaleel’s tendency to risk accuracy for pace has often given him the ‘inconsistent’ tag. But when he gunned down the Vidarbha top order on Thursday, the left-armer offered signs of employing new tricks.
Coupled with his trademark away-shapers off the deck, he generated considerable bounce to trouble the batters. The Zaheer Khan-inspired left-armer was also finishing his jump at the crease.
On a day when 15 wickets fell and little separated Vidarbha (165) and Rajasthan (101 for five) in their approach, Khaleel’s intuition was decisive in landing the first punch.
“Dum lagaoge to hi ball move hone ke chances the (extra effort was needed to make the ball move today). Just with the release, we couldn’t have done much. Especially with the fuller lengths, it was important to hit the bat harder to challenge the batters,” he said after settling into his stride early to dismiss the Vidarbha openers inside the first three overs.
Recent stints with the national side, including the tour to Australia as a reserve, have convinced Khaleel that he is on the right track.
“I was close to getting a chance in Australia before I had to return injured. Chances were building up for me in the squad and the team management was also looking for a left-arm option. I am positive of being in the frame for the England tour as well,” he said.
Since last season, he has become Rajasthan’s strike bowler in all formats. “I know I can swing the ball both ways, keeping the pace up around or over 140 kph while at it. I believe that ability can survive in international cricket in any format. I have been carrying that thought in my mind every day since my comeback last year,” he affirmed.
“100 percent chances hai (for a Test call-up). Usi ke liye domestic me aakar dum laga raha hoon (I am grinding for only that over here).”
Brief scores: Vidarbha 165 all out in 57.3 overs (Karun Nair 39; Khaleel Ahmed 5/37, Manav Suthar 3/40) Rajasthan 101/5 in 30 overs (Mahipal Lomror 44 batting)
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