Ignored India Star Hammers Ton In Ranji Trophy Final, Sends Strong Message To BCCI Selectors

Karun Nair made the most of a reprieve to pile up an unbeaten 132 and power Vidarbha to a position of command with an overall lead of 286 runs at stumps on Day Four of their Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur on Saturday. Nair's fourth century of the Ranji Trophy season — and ninth overall including the five tons in Vijay Hazare Trophy — gave Vidarbha the bragging rights and also put one hand on the Ranji Trophy with a third title win in horizon.

Vidarbha now have the summit clash of the 90th Ranji Trophy completely in their control after Nair's 280-ball 132 not out helped them extend their first-innings lead of 37 runs to an overall 286 with only one day's play left in the contest.

A dropped regulation catch in the 19th over of the day and the innings ended up having a huge impact as Nair went on to score another quality hundred, one that defied Kerala's effort nearly all day long.

Danish Malewar also shone for the hosts Vidarbha at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha with the right-handed batter following up his first-innings' 153 with another resolute knock of 73.

But the biggest moment arrived in the 19th over when Kerala's Akshay Chandran spilled a regulation grab at the first slip off Eden Apple Tom when Nair was on 31.

Eden's length was short and the ball took off from the surface to take the edge of the bat and lob towards the first slip, where Chandran was required to grab with his hands reverse-cupped in front of his face.

But Chandran could not keep the ball in control which popped out of his hands and from thereon, Nair hardly gave anything away to his opponents.

Hitting an overall 10 fours and two sixes, Nair piled up another quality knock which added to the laurels he has collected this season and the celebration on