Kuldeep Sen's Fiery Spell Puts Madhya Pradesh in Firm Control Against Jammu and Kashmir
Madhya Pradesh's pace spearhead Kuldeep Sen unleashed a blistering and hostile spell of fast bowling to dismantle Jammu and Kashmir for a mere 194 runs on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash at the Holkar Stadium on Friday. This dominant performance handed the hosts a significant upper hand on what was widely considered a batsman-friendly surface. At stumps, Madhya Pradesh had comfortably reached 28 for no wicket, with their openers looking settled and composed.
Sen's Maiden Five-Wicket Haul Triggers J&K Batting Collapse
Kuldeep Sen's maiden five-wicket haul in the tournament proved to be the decisive trigger for Jammu and Kashmir's dramatic batting implosion. Built on sheer pace, raw aggression, and relentless hostility, Sen wasted no time in making early inroads. He shattered the top order with two swift and devastating strikes: first, inducing an edge from Yawer Hassan (13) that was comfortably taken behind the stumps, and then trapping Shubham Pundir (1) leg-before-wicket with a sharp, rising delivery that left the batsman with little answer.
Jammu and Kashmir's openers, Shubham Khajuria (60) and captain Paras Dogra (33), mounted a spirited recovery effort, displaying admirable resolve as they dead-batted their way through probing spells from the Madhya Pradesh attack. However, the hosts' bowling unit, marshalled smartly and with great discipline, refused to relent or allow the partnership to flourish.
Kartikeya's Spin Complements Sen's Pace in Orchestrating Downfall
Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya, fresh from his heroics in the last league match against Maharashtra, struck a crucial blow by luring the well-set Shubham Khajuria into a fatal prod outside off-stump. The resulting edge was expertly snapped up by Rajat Patidar at slip, breaking the threatening stand. Moments later, Sen returned to the attack with renewed vigor, drawing a faint nick from captain Paras Dogra off a lifting delivery. Initially given not out by the on-field umpire, third umpire technology confirmed the dismissal to the delight of the Madhya Pradesh camp.
Kartikeya piled on the misery for Jammu and Kashmir, exploiting reckless charges from Kanhaiya Wadhawan and Abid Mushtaq to claim a brace of wickets and deepen the visiting side's considerable hole. A brief spark of resistance came from tailender Yudhvir Singh, whose explosive innings of 41 runs, punctuated by three towering sixes, briefly ignited the crowd and provided some entertainment. However, Sen had the final say, ending the entertainment with a pinpoint yorker that crashed into the stumps, securing his fifth scalp and capping a performance defined more by heart and determination than sheer polish.
Disciplined Bowling and Calm Batting Position MP for Strong Hold
While Kuldeep Sen's final bowling figures of five wickets flattered his occasional waywardness, it was his unyielding run-up, consistent pace, and ability to hurry batsmen that reaped rich rewards on a pitch that held firm throughout the day. Kartikeya's guile and control, implied by his three wickets during the collapse, added essential variety to the attack, underscoring Madhya Pradesh's well-balanced and potent bowling arsenal.
At stumps, Madhya Pradesh openers Harsh Gawli (not out 8) and Yash Dubey (not out 14) bedded in calmly and with great composure, their steady partnership a clear nod to the strong platform forged by the bowlers earlier in the day. In sharp contrast, Jammu and Kashmir's strokeplay was marked by ill-judged jabs, half-hearted application, and a lack of discipline, which stood in stark opposition to Madhya Pradesh's methodical and relentless bowling performance. This has positioned the home side for a significantly stronger hold as the match progresses into the second day.
