Kukna’s five-for gives Rajasthan an 89-run first-innings lead over Tamil Nadu
Kukna Ajay Singh took five for 51 as Rajasthan claimed an 89-run first-innings lead over Tamil Nadu in the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Tamil Nadu managed just 65 runs in 37 overs during the morning session and lost a wicket to a run-out before lunch; after the interval Kukna removed the tail as the visitors were dismissed for 274, leaving Rajasthan — who scored 363 in their first innings — an 89-run advantage on the third day.
Andre Siddarth played a patient 81 off 192 balls with seven fours and shared a 61-run sixth-wicket stand with Washington Sundar (26 not out) before Kukna broke the partnership, Andre going on the back foot to cut and missing; Kukna then had D. Deepesh out and, two balls later, bowled No. 11 Saravana Kumar.
Andre’s innings contained the morning session’s only boundary — a punched four to deep extra cover off Hemant Kumar — and he reached his 10th First Class fifty off 145 balls, repeatedly choosing defence or leaving deliveries, and at times taking singles and doubles to build his score.
Rajasthan’s second innings began with early losses: Sachin Yadav was bowled by Sai Kishore for a duck, Sumit Godara (2) edged to second slip off Saravana Kumar, Karan Lamba (13) was bowled by Sonu Yadav, and Rohan Rajbhar (10) was stumped by N. Jagadeesan off Sai Kishore; Mahipal Lomror was 25 not out and Kartik Sharma 30 not out as Rajasthan reached 81 for 4 in 34 overs.
Bowling figures from the match include Akash 24-1-74-2, Chetan 15-1-50-1, Suthar 21-5-49-0, Hemant 9-0-30-0, Rohan 5-0-16-1 and Kukna 24.4-5-51-5 for Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu’s bowlers in the second innings were Sai Kishore 14-2-25-2, Saravana Kumar 5-2-4-1, Washington 7-2-19-0, Sonu 5-0-16-1 and Deepesh 3-0-16-0, while Tamil Nadu’s first-innings fall of wickets read 1-11, 2-115, 3-121, 4-167, 5-203, 6-264, 7-265, 8-273, 9-274.
On the third day Rajasthan sat 89 runs ahead after bowling Tamil Nadu out for 274 and were 81 for 4 in their second innings (34 overs), leaving the match poised with the hosts leading into the next phase.
