Goa's first Ranji Trophy match winning team.
As Panjim Gymkhana gears up to host its first Ranji Trophy match after a gap of 18 years on 26 October 2024 between Goa and Nagaland, it was at this same venue that Goa registered its first victory in Ranji Trophy, twenty eight seasons ago in October 1996.
In that match held on 25 - 28 October 1996, Goa did the unthinkable by defeating defending champions Karnataka by an innings and 81 runs.
It was a historic win for Goa. After all, Goa’s maiden victory in Ranji Trophy had come in its 12th season and 56th match since making its Ranji debut against Kerala at Vasco during 1985-86 season.
The odds were heavily stacked against the Goan side. Karnataka were the defending champions who had won the Ranji Trophy during 1995-96 season under the leadership of the legendary Anil Kumble.
The Karnataka squad boosted of India players such as Sujith Somasunder and David Johnson who had made their India debut in that same month i.e. October 1996. Also it had promising players such as Dodda Ganesh and Vijay Bharadwaj who later went on to represent the Indian cricket team.
Goa was led by V B Chandrasekhar, a former India player who had opened the innings along with Krishnamachari Srikanth for Tamil Nadu. Chandrasekhar was a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket and was one of the stars of Tamil Nadu team that had won the Ranji Trophy during 1987-88 season.
On a green pitch at the Bhausaheb Bandodkar ground in Campal, Goa batted first with its skipper V B Chandrasekhar leading from the front to score 88, most of his runs coming from boundaries. He was equally supported by Rajesh Naik's 55, Sandesh Dhuri's 51 and J Gokulakrishnan's 36. Debutant Sandeep Signapurkar remained unbeaten on 33. The hosts put on a respectable total of 346 despite Karnataka boosting of a formidable bowling attack.
For Karnataka, right-arm medium-fast bowler Dodda Ganesh picked up a five-wicket haul (5/92).
Opener Sujith Somasunder led the Karnataka innings with a classic knock of 70. But, rest of the Karnataka batters could not last long. Apart from Sujith, J Arun Kumar (10) and David Johnson (10) were the only Karnataka batsmen to reach double digit mark.
J Gokulakrishnan, another professional from Tamil Nadu, who represented Goa; ripped apart Karnataka’s star-studded batting line-up by picking up seven wickets (7/54). Debutant left-arm spinner Sayied Khalid claimed two wickets (2/11), while Sudin Kamat took one wicket (1/36).
Except for the opening partnership of 35 runs between Sujith Somasunder and J Arun Kumar, Karnataka’s wickets started falling at a regular interval.
Eventually they were bowled out for mere 114. Goa had taken a 232 runs first innings lead.
Following-on, Karnataka never really recovered psychologically from its shocking first innings debacle. Its batsmen crumbled in the second innings as well to score just 151.
Once again J Gokulakrishnan (4/60) and Sayied Khalid (3/36) were the pick of Goa’s bowlers. Sudin Kamat, Yeshwant Barde and Arun Shetty took a wicket each.
For Karnataka, J Arun Kumar (38) and skipper PV Shashikanth (32) were the only notable run scorers in their second innings.
Goa had registered a famous win of an innings and 81 runs.
Since then, Goa has registered 30 wins in Ranji Trophy till date. But, its maiden victory will always remain special.
Goa squad:
V B Chandrasekhar (captain), Vivek Kolambkar, Yeshwant Barde, Rajesh Naik, Jayraman Gokulakrishnan, Balkrishna Misquin, Sandesh Dhuri (wicket-keeper), Sandeep Signapurkar, Arun Shetty, Sudin Kamat and Sayied Khalid
Karnataka squad:
P. V. Shashikanth (captain), Sujith Somasunder, J Arun Kumar, Vijay Bharadwaj, Krishnaraj Sriram, Rangarao Ananth, Somashekar Shiraguppi (wicket-keeper), Dodda Ganesh, David Johnson, Anand Katti and M V Prashanth
