165/3 (18.2)
CR : 9.00
162/7 (20.0)
CR : 8.10
Shivamogga Yodhas won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Aneesh K V
76(46)*
18.2
6
Nischith Pai to Smaran Ravichandran
DISPATCHED, AND THAT IS THAT! Smaran had enough of the tippy-tappy singles, he sees this landed on a hard length on middle with pace, clears his front leg and absolutely clubs this across the line, sending the ball soaring over cow corner! Shivamogga Yodhas coast home by 7 wickets with 10 balls to spare!
Smaran Ravichandran
Scored 50 in 32 Balls
50
Over 19
Shivamogga Yodhas 165/3
Smaran Ravichandran53(32)
Aneesh K V76(46)
Nischith Pai2-35(3.2)
SY won by 7 wickets
10:33 PM IST, LOCAL TIME: Sometimes the strongest roots are revealed only after the fiercest storm. That was the story of this contest as the Shivamogga Yodhas shrugged off an early collapse to chase 163 with remarkable authority, finishing on 165/3 in 18.2 overs and winning by 7 wickets. Who owned the first half? The Yodhas' bowlers. Who bossed the second? Aneesh K V and skipper Smaran Ravichandran. Coastal Kings Mangaluru had moments. Plenty of them. But they never managed to control an entire phase, while the Yodhas recovered from 40/3 to completely flip the script with an unbeaten century stand.
Let's rewind a bit....
How did the Coastal Kings begin after being put into bat? With promise... before one over changed everything. Aadharsh SJ looked positive from the outset, striking 24 off 17, while Nikin Jose settled into his usual rhythm. The opening pair added 35 runs, but Dhanush Gowda produced a game-changing sixth over. On the very first ball, he had Aadharsh caught by Abhilash Shetty. Two deliveries later, he removed the dangerous Karun Nair for a duck, with Naveen MG taking the catch. Suddenly, the Powerplay that began steadily ended with the Kings wobbling at 36/2, and Shivamogga had all the momentum.
Could the Kings rebuild through the middle overs? They tried. But every partnership found a roadblock. Nikin Jose and Siddharth Akhil added 25 runs for the third wicket before captain Smaran Ravichandran introduced Shreesha Achar at exactly the right moment. The left-arm spinner struck on his fifth delivery, dismissing Akhil for 5, and then produced a dream delivery to bowl Shreyas Gopal for a first-ball duck immediately after the break. At 60/4 after nine overs, Shivamogga had squeezed the middle overs beautifully. Nikin, though, kept battling, carrying the innings forward while quietly reaching a hard-earned fifty off 41 balls.
Who rescued the Kings at the death? Suraj Ajya Ahuja first... Codanda Ajit Karthik later. Jose and Ahuja stitched together a valuable 43-run stand, lifting the score past the 100-run mark before Yashovardhan Parantap removed the well-set Jose for 51 at 103/5. Ahuja then threatened a blazing finish with 39 off just 19 balls, smashing four fours and two sixes, but Abhilash Shetty struck immediately after being hit for six to cut short the charge. Codanda Ajit Karthik remained unbeaten with a powerful 36 off 20, while Prajwal Pavan added late support as the Kings closed on 162/7. Dhanush Gowda, Abhilash Shetty and Shreesha Achar all finished with two wickets each, ensuring the Yodhas kept the target within touching distance.
Now... The Chase!
How did the chase begin? In complete contrast to expectations. Coastal Kings roared into the contest with the ball as Vasuki Koushik removed Luvnith Sisodia in the very first over. Nischith Pai then struck twice, dismissing Tushar Singh and MG Naveen, reducing the Yodhas to 40/3 after the Powerplay. Chasing 163, the asking rate was climbing, and the Kings looked firmly in command. Had they landed one more blow there, the chase could have looked very different.
So who stood tall when the pressure peaked? Aneesh K V and captain Smaran Ravichandran answered every question. They first steadied the innings to 75/3 at the strategic timeout after nine overs, before reaching 80/3 at the halfway stage, needing another 83 runs from the final ten overs. Aneesh played with remarkable maturity under pressure, rotating strike before punishing anything loose, while Smaran matched him with elegant strokeplay. The Yodhas crossed the 100-run mark in 12.1 overs, and Aneesh celebrated a brilliant fifty in just 30 balls, raising his bat after turning the chase completely around.
Did the Kings have one last opening? Not after these two settled in. Aneesh and Smaran put together a magnificent, unbeaten 125-run partnership in just 75 balls, bringing up the 100-run stand in only 59 deliveries. By the final strategic timeout after 16 overs, Shivamogga had surged to 145/3, needing only 18 from 24 balls. Aneesh remained unbeaten on a match-winning 76 off 46, while Smaran completed a classy 53 off 32. The pair never allowed the required rate to become a factor, sealing victory comfortably with 10 balls to spare. For the Kings, Vasuki Koushik and Nischith Pai struck early, but the middle overs belonged entirely to the Yodhas.
What ultimately decided this contest? Winning the big moments. Dhanush Gowda's double strike inside three deliveries broke the Kings' backbone in the first innings. Shreesha Achar's twin breakthroughs ensured they never fully recovered. Then came the defining stand - Aneesh and Smaran's unbeaten 125-run partnership, which erased an early collapse and turned a tricky chase into a one-sided finish. Cricket often rewards composure more than panic, and the Yodhas displayed exactly that when it mattered the most.
Let's rewind a bit....
How did the Coastal Kings begin after being put into bat? With promise... before one over changed everything. Aadharsh SJ looked positive from the outset, striking 24 off 17, while Nikin Jose settled into his usual rhythm. The opening pair added 35 runs, but Dhanush Gowda produced a game-changing sixth over. On the very first ball, he had Aadharsh caught by Abhilash Shetty. Two deliveries later, he removed the dangerous Karun Nair for a duck, with Naveen MG taking the catch. Suddenly, the Powerplay that began steadily ended with the Kings wobbling at 36/2, and Shivamogga had all the momentum.
Could the Kings rebuild through the middle overs? They tried. But every partnership found a roadblock. Nikin Jose and Siddharth Akhil added 25 runs for the third wicket before captain Smaran Ravichandran introduced Shreesha Achar at exactly the right moment. The left-arm spinner struck on his fifth delivery, dismissing Akhil for 5, and then produced a dream delivery to bowl Shreyas Gopal for a first-ball duck immediately after the break. At 60/4 after nine overs, Shivamogga had squeezed the middle overs beautifully. Nikin, though, kept battling, carrying the innings forward while quietly reaching a hard-earned fifty off 41 balls.
Who rescued the Kings at the death? Suraj Ajya Ahuja first... Codanda Ajit Karthik later. Jose and Ahuja stitched together a valuable 43-run stand, lifting the score past the 100-run mark before Yashovardhan Parantap removed the well-set Jose for 51 at 103/5. Ahuja then threatened a blazing finish with 39 off just 19 balls, smashing four fours and two sixes, but Abhilash Shetty struck immediately after being hit for six to cut short the charge. Codanda Ajit Karthik remained unbeaten with a powerful 36 off 20, while Prajwal Pavan added late support as the Kings closed on 162/7. Dhanush Gowda, Abhilash Shetty and Shreesha Achar all finished with two wickets each, ensuring the Yodhas kept the target within touching distance.
Now... The Chase!
How did the chase begin? In complete contrast to expectations. Coastal Kings roared into the contest with the ball as Vasuki Koushik removed Luvnith Sisodia in the very first over. Nischith Pai then struck twice, dismissing Tushar Singh and MG Naveen, reducing the Yodhas to 40/3 after the Powerplay. Chasing 163, the asking rate was climbing, and the Kings looked firmly in command. Had they landed one more blow there, the chase could have looked very different.
So who stood tall when the pressure peaked? Aneesh K V and captain Smaran Ravichandran answered every question. They first steadied the innings to 75/3 at the strategic timeout after nine overs, before reaching 80/3 at the halfway stage, needing another 83 runs from the final ten overs. Aneesh played with remarkable maturity under pressure, rotating strike before punishing anything loose, while Smaran matched him with elegant strokeplay. The Yodhas crossed the 100-run mark in 12.1 overs, and Aneesh celebrated a brilliant fifty in just 30 balls, raising his bat after turning the chase completely around.
Did the Kings have one last opening? Not after these two settled in. Aneesh and Smaran put together a magnificent, unbeaten 125-run partnership in just 75 balls, bringing up the 100-run stand in only 59 deliveries. By the final strategic timeout after 16 overs, Shivamogga had surged to 145/3, needing only 18 from 24 balls. Aneesh remained unbeaten on a match-winning 76 off 46, while Smaran completed a classy 53 off 32. The pair never allowed the required rate to become a factor, sealing victory comfortably with 10 balls to spare. For the Kings, Vasuki Koushik and Nischith Pai struck early, but the middle overs belonged entirely to the Yodhas.
What ultimately decided this contest? Winning the big moments. Dhanush Gowda's double strike inside three deliveries broke the Kings' backbone in the first innings. Shreesha Achar's twin breakthroughs ensured they never fully recovered. Then came the defining stand - Aneesh and Smaran's unbeaten 125-run partnership, which erased an early collapse and turned a tricky chase into a one-sided finish. Cricket often rewards composure more than panic, and the Yodhas displayed exactly that when it mattered the most.
Karun Nair (Coastal Kings Mangaluru captain): (On where they lacked today) I don't think we got enough runs for today, like last game, we were 20-25 runs short. The bowlers tried their best, we just need to go back, good couple of days off, regroup, and come back better.
(On the lack of runs from him and Shreyas Gopal today) It's a team game, we have to take responsibility and take the team through to a good total. One of us batting till the end would have done the job, that's what I'll be looking to do the next game.
(On him getting out for a duck) It happens in T20 cricket. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn't; those kind of shots are helping me with how I play. Probably I might take a little longer to play those shots, but I won't stop myself from playing them.
(On the chat before they went out to defend their total) The only chat in the middle was to try and save 10-15 runs in the field and make it look like a 180-185 run target. But again, we didn't quite do that in the field either. We were sloppy in the field; we have youngsters who are playing in the KPL for the first time and learning. Hopefully, we keep getting better every game; that's what I can expect.
(On their new-ball bowlers today) As usual, Koushik keeps delivering every game; that's what we expect him to do - deliver in the powerplay and get wickets. We need to play as a team; we need everyone contributing to win championships.
(On what the table looks like for them) There's very less to think about; we need to come out and win the next game and see where the table goes.
(On the lack of runs from him and Shreyas Gopal today) It's a team game, we have to take responsibility and take the team through to a good total. One of us batting till the end would have done the job, that's what I'll be looking to do the next game.
(On him getting out for a duck) It happens in T20 cricket. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn't; those kind of shots are helping me with how I play. Probably I might take a little longer to play those shots, but I won't stop myself from playing them.
(On the chat before they went out to defend their total) The only chat in the middle was to try and save 10-15 runs in the field and make it look like a 180-185 run target. But again, we didn't quite do that in the field either. We were sloppy in the field; we have youngsters who are playing in the KPL for the first time and learning. Hopefully, we keep getting better every game; that's what I can expect.
(On their new-ball bowlers today) As usual, Koushik keeps delivering every game; that's what we expect him to do - deliver in the powerplay and get wickets. We need to play as a team; we need everyone contributing to win championships.
(On what the table looks like for them) There's very less to think about; we need to come out and win the next game and see where the table goes.
Time for the Post-Match Presentations....
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ANEESH K V
Smaran Ravichandran (Shivamogga Yodhas Captain): (On scoring his first unbeaten fifty) "Thank you. I was definitely looking to get some runs. I felt I had been getting starts and wanted to convert them. I'm glad I could finish the Hubli leg well, both personally and as a team.
(On finishing the chase with a six) I just wanted to finish the game as quickly as possible and take a deep breath. I also want to credit Aneesh for the way he batted. It's not easy to come back after a string of failures and play an innings like that. Hopefully, he can take this momentum forward.
(On Abhilash Shetty's return from injury) With the number of injuries we've had, it's great to have Abhilash back. The way he bowled after returning from injury was phenomenal.
(On Shreesha's contribution) He's been doing it time and again for us as our lead spinner. Every time I throw him the ball, he's ready to get the job done. He's the kind of player I can turn to at any stage of the game.
(On backing Aneesh after a difficult start to the tournament) Aneesh is a tremendous player, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he got runs. We had a lot of conversations while batting together about taking the chase deep. Since the target wasn't very high, the way he batted was outstanding. Full credit to him."
(On finishing the chase with a six) I just wanted to finish the game as quickly as possible and take a deep breath. I also want to credit Aneesh for the way he batted. It's not easy to come back after a string of failures and play an innings like that. Hopefully, he can take this momentum forward.
(On Abhilash Shetty's return from injury) With the number of injuries we've had, it's great to have Abhilash back. The way he bowled after returning from injury was phenomenal.
(On Shreesha's contribution) He's been doing it time and again for us as our lead spinner. Every time I throw him the ball, he's ready to get the job done. He's the kind of player I can turn to at any stage of the game.
(On backing Aneesh after a difficult start to the tournament) Aneesh is a tremendous player, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he got runs. We had a lot of conversations while batting together about taking the chase deep. Since the target wasn't very high, the way he batted was outstanding. Full credit to him."
And with that, the Shivamogga Yodhas return to winning ways in emphatic fashion. A disciplined bowling effort. Calm batting under pressure. Two outstanding match-winning performances from Aneesh K V and Smaran Ravichandran. The Coastal Kings Mangaluru showed glimpses of brilliance through Nikin Jose, Suraj Ahuja and Codanda Ajit Karthik, but they were left chasing the game after losing wickets in clusters and then watching one partnership take it away completely. That's all from this entertaining contest.
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Rajarshi Das, and scorer Ashok Dayma. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!!
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Rajarshi Das, and scorer Ashok Dayma. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!!