Karan Lamba returns to Rajasthan with unbeaten 103 in Ranji Trophy

Karan Lamba returned to Rajasthan’s Ranji Trophy side with an unbeaten 103 against Tamil Nadu in Jaipur on Sunday. He is 21 years old.

Lamba first announced himself with an unbeaten century on his Ranji Trophy debut in 2023 and had not featured for Rajasthan in the competition since February 2024. He reappeared in the first-class setup with the century that ended his absence.

He said he continued to focus on his performances in the under-23 circuit while out of the Ranji side, knowing an opportunity might arrive at any time. “I focused on my game and tried to perform as consistently as possible in u-23 cricket. You never know when selectors might pick you, so I never took any match lightly. The only thing was that the u-23 matches do not get as much live coverage, so you are not always in the limelight. But I believe that if you perform well, the selectors keep an eye on you, irrespective of the level you play at,” he said.

Lamba was Rajasthan’s highest run-getter in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season, a performance he said gave him confidence about returning to the Ranji side. “I felt I had established my place and felt I would get an opportunity the following season. That allowed me to focus on how I could take my game to the next level,” he said.

On the match surface, Lamba said he was determined to convert his start into a substantial score and make the most of favourable conditions. “The wicket was very good (for batting), and you rarely get such flat tracks. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity and bat for as long as possible,” he said.

Published - October 12, 2026 12:30 am IST - JAIPUR