Gujarat seek reversal as Kerala return to Narendra Modi Stadium for Ranji Trophy fourth-round clash

Gujarat will seek a form reversal when it hosts Kerala at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the Elite Group C Ranji Trophy fourth-round match from Monday. The match pits a home side that began the season with a bonus-point win against Odisha against a Kerala side that is recovering from a heavy loss.

Ahmedabad — Kerala arrive at the stadium where they recorded a historic semifinal win two seasons ago, but they face pressure after a morale-shattering 287-run defeat to Bengal at home. Gujarat opened the season with a 10-wicket bonus-point victory over Odisha before slipping in away fixtures, conceding first-innings leads to Delhi and Maharashtra. Both teams therefore carry contrasting recent results into the fourth-round fixture.

Gujarat captain Chintan Gaja warned that the surface could favour spin later in the match and stressed batting responsibility up front. “I reckon the surface will help spinners in the later stages of the match. So, obviously we need to bat well in the first innings. We need to be a little more consistent with our batting. Kerala has three good spinners, but we also have a balanced team. Siddharth Desai is in good form, and I expect him to lead our attack,” Gaja said.

Gujarat’s home advantage and Desai’s form are framed against the team’s inconsistent road performances, which the captain acknowledged by highlighting the need for more consistent batting. The side’s season so far has combined a convincing opening win with setbacks in away matches, leaving them keen to make the Narendra Modi Stadium count.

Kerala’s loss to Bengal has been attributed to multiple weaknesses, with the report noting a brittle opening pair, an inconsistent middle-order and bowlers struggling to dismiss lower-order batters. It remains to be seen whether Kunnummal will feature against Gujarat.

Kerala captain Vishnu Vinod accepted the team’s collective failure in the defeat to Bengal while signalling a focus on fundamentals ahead of the Gujarat game. “Obviously, Gujarat is a good side, and they will come hard at us. However, we will look to play to our strengths and focus on executing the things within our control,” he said.

The two teams meet in the Elite Group C Ranji Trophy fourth-round match from Monday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where Gujarat will attempt to convert home conditions into a return to winning form while Kerala aim to rectify the faults exposed by their recent defeat.