Introduction
The latest and most significant Mumbai vs Karnataka cricket match was the fourth quarter-final of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, played from February 6 to 9, 2026, at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. It became a remarkable knockout contest as Karnataka chased down a target of 325 runs to win by four wickets and eliminate the defending champions. Mumbai were bowled out for just 120 in their first innings, but recovered strongly with 377 in the second. Karnataka responded with 173 in their first innings before producing the decisive fourth-innings chase. KL Rahul’s 130 off 182 balls was the defining performance, supported by an unbeaten 83 from Ravichandran Smaran. The victory sent Karnataka into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals, while Mumbai’s title defence ended in the quarter-finals.
Quick Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Match | Mumbai vs Karnataka |
| Tournament | Ranji Trophy 2025-26 |
| Stage | 4th Quarter-Final |
| Dates | February 6–9, 2026 |
| Venue | Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, Mumbai |
| Toss | Mumbai won and elected to bat |
| Mumbai 1st innings | 120 all out |
| Karnataka 1st innings | 173 all out |
| Mumbai 2nd innings | 377 all out |
| Karnataka 2nd innings | 325/6 |
| Result | Karnataka won by 4 wickets |
| Player of the Match | KL Rahul |
| Karnataka outcome | Advanced to semi-finals |
The official scorecard records Karnataka’s four-wicket victory after reaching 325/6 in 73.4 overs.
Match Scorecard
Mumbai 1st Innings – 120 All Out
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Akhil Herwadkar | 60 | 138 | 9 | 0 |
| Musheer Khan | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Siddhesh Lad | 12 | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Suryansh Shedge | 10 | 44 | 1 | 0 |
| Akash Anand | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Shams Mulani | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shardul Thakur | 16 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| Tanush Kotian | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohit Avasthi | 0* | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 14 | |||
| Total | 120 all out | 48.1 overs |
Karnataka bowling: Vidwath Kaverappa 3/38, Prasidh Krishna 3/21, Shreyas Gopal 3/4 and Vidyadhar Patil 1/36.
Karnataka 1st Innings – 173 All Out
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| KL Rahul | 28 | 26 | 6 | 0 |
| Mayank Agarwal | 92 | 134 | 14 | 1 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 17 | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Karun Nair | 4 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Ravichandran Smaran | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Shreyas Gopal | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kruthik Krishna | 9 | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| Vidyadhar Patil | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Shikhar Shetty | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vidwath Kaverappa | 4* | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | 11 | |||
| Total | 173 all out | 47.1 overs |
Mumbai’s best bowlers were Mohit Avasthi (4/27) and Tushar Deshpande (4/33).
Mumbai 2nd Innings – 377 All Out
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 36 | 43 | 4 | 2 |
| Akhil Herwadkar | 33 | 35 | 6 | 0 |
| Akash Anand | 70 | 169 | 6 | 0 |
| Musheer Khan | 49 | 110 | 5 | 0 |
| Siddhesh Lad | 25 | 44 | 5 | 0 |
| Suryansh Shedge | 25 | 52 | 1 | 0 |
| Shams Mulani | 9 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Shardul Thakur | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tanush Kotian | 48* | 73 | 5 | 1 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 47 | 40 | 7 | 2 |
| Mohit Avasthi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 34 | |||
| Total | 377 all out | 98.3 overs |
Shikhar Shetty was Karnataka’s leading bowler with 3/45, while Vidyadhar Patil and Vidwath Kaverappa claimed two wickets each.
Karnataka 2nd Innings – 325/6
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Mayank Agarwal | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| KL Rahul | 130 | 182 | 14 | 1 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 39 | 52 | 5 | 1 |
| Karun Nair | 13 | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Ravichandran Smaran | 83* | 123 | 11 | 0 |
| Shreyas Gopal | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Kruthik Krishna | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Vidyadhar Patil | 31* | 30 | 3 | 1 |
| Extras | 23 | |||
| Total | 325/6 | 73.4 overs |
Mumbai’s wickets were shared between Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian, who each took two wickets.
Winning Team Innings Analysis
Karnataka’s victory was built on contrasting performances across their two innings.
Their first innings was largely driven by Mayank Agarwal’s 92. Karnataka reached 173, giving them a 53-run lead after Mumbai’s initial collapse. Although 173 was not a commanding total, it prevented Mumbai from establishing an outright first-innings advantage.
The fourth innings was completely different.
Karnataka needed 325, and losing Agarwal for three early made the task immediately more difficult. Rahul then took control. He first combined with Devdutt Padikkal for an 84-run partnership, helping Karnataka recover from 12/1. After Padikkal fell, Rahul continued with Karun Nair before forming the match-defining partnership with Smaran Ravichandran.
The Rahul-Smaran stand was worth 147 runs, turning a potentially difficult chase into a realistic one. Rahul eventually reached 130, his 24th first-class century according to the match report, before being dismissed at 266.
Smaran then remained unbeaten on 83, while Vidyadhar Patil’s 31* ensured Karnataka did not panic during the closing stages.
Chasing Team Innings Analysis
Mumbai’s second innings was their chance to rescue the match after the disastrous 120.
They did so impressively. Eight Mumbai batters scored at least 25, showing how much better they adapted in their second attempt. Akash Anand top-scored with 70, while Musheer Khan made 49. Tanush Kotian’s unbeaten 48 and Tushar Deshpande’s 47 added valuable runs toward the end.
The final total of 377 gave Karnataka a challenging target of 325.
However, the target required sustained batting rather than a quick assault. Rahul provided exactly that. His 182-ball century absorbed the pressure while still keeping the scoreboard moving. Smaran’s ability to bat for 123 balls alongside him proved equally important.
Karnataka eventually reached 325/6 in 73.4 overs, completing one of the most notable successful fourth-innings chases of the season.
Bowling Analysis
Mumbai’s bowlers were excellent in the first innings. Mohit Avasthi took 4/27, while Tushar Deshpande claimed 4/33. Their combined eight wickets helped dismiss Karnataka for 173.
Karnataka’s attack was even more destructive when Mumbai first batted. Prasidh Krishna, Vidwath Kaverappa and Shreyas Gopal took three wickets each, restricting Mumbai to only 120. Gopal’s 3/4 from 4.1 overs was particularly economical.
In Mumbai’s second innings, Shikhar Shetty took 3/45. But the fourth innings ultimately belonged to Karnataka’s batters rather than its bowlers.
Turning Point
The decisive passage was the 147-run partnership between KL Rahul and Ravichandran Smaran.
Karnataka were 119/3 after Karun Nair’s dismissal, meaning Mumbai had an opportunity to expose the lower middle order. Instead, Rahul and Smaran steadily took the game away.
Rahul reached his century from 147 balls, while Smaran also passed fifty during the partnership. Their stand crossed 100 before Rahul was eventually dismissed for 130. By then, Karnataka needed only 59 runs.
That partnership changed the match because it transformed Mumbai’s target from something defendable into a manageable chase.
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Figure |
| Mumbai 1st innings | 120 |
| Karnataka 1st innings | 173 |
| Mumbai 2nd innings | 377 |
| Karnataka 2nd innings | 325/6 |
| Karnataka’s winning margin | 4 wickets |
| Mumbai first-innings deficit | 53 runs |
| Target for Karnataka | 325 |
| KL Rahul | 130 off 182 |
| Ravichandran Smaran | 83 off 123* |
| Mayank Agarwal | 92 |
| Akash Anand | 70 |
| Mohit Avasthi | 4/27 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 4/33 |
| Shreyas Gopal | 3/4 |
| Rahul-Smaran partnership | 147 runs |
Records & Milestones
- KL Rahul scored 130, his 24th first-class century, according to the match report.
- Rahul was named Player of the Match for his match-winning fourth-innings century.
- Karnataka successfully chased 325, winning the quarter-final by four wickets.
- Ravichandran Smaran’s unbeaten 83 provided the crucial support during the successful chase.
- Karnataka advanced to the Ranji Trophy semi-finals, where they were scheduled to face Uttarakhand.
Head-to-Head Record
Mumbai and Karnataka have a long-standing domestic rivalry, but their most recent two meetings before this Ranji Trophy quarter-final had both gone Karnataka’s way.
Karnataka beat Mumbai by seven wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 after chasing 383. They then defeated Mumbai again in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 quarter-final by 55 runs under the VJD method. (Cricbuzz)
The Ranji Trophy meeting made it three consecutive recent victories for Karnataka across the cited matches. In this game, however, the victory carried much greater significance because it eliminated Mumbai from the championship.
What This Result Means
For Karnataka, the result was more than another win over Mumbai. It secured a place in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals and demonstrated the team’s ability to recover from difficult positions.
Mumbai’s first innings was their biggest problem. Being dismissed for 120 meant they spent the remainder of the match trying to repair the damage. Their 377 in the second innings was an excellent response, but Karnataka’s 53-run first-innings lead meant Mumbai could not set a lower target.
The defeat also ended Mumbai’s title defence. India Today noted that Mumbai had entered the contest as defending champions, while Karnataka’s win kept alive their pursuit of another Ranji Trophy title.
For Karnataka, the combination of Rahul’s experience and Smaran’s composure proved decisive.
Conclusion
The Mumbai vs Karnataka Ranji Trophy 2025-26 quarter-final was a classic example of how a Test-style match can swing dramatically across four innings.
Mumbai’s 120 put them on the back foot, but their bowlers fought back by dismissing Karnataka for 173. The hosts then produced a much stronger 377, setting Karnataka a substantial target of 325.
That target, however, was not enough.
KL Rahul’s 130 from 182 balls provided the foundation for Karnataka’s successful chase, while Ravichandran Smaran’s unbeaten 83 ensured the pursuit stayed under control. Their 147-run partnership was the key phase of the match, and Karnataka eventually reached 325/6 in 73.4 overs to win by four wickets.
The result ended Mumbai’s campaign and sent Karnataka into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. It was a victory built on resilience, disciplined batting and one outstanding fourth-innings performance from Rahul.
SEO FAQs
1. Who won Mumbai vs Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 quarter-final?
Karnataka won by four wickets, chasing Mumbai’s target of 325 on the fourth day.
2. What was the Mumbai vs Karnataka scorecard?
Mumbai scored 120 and 377, while Karnataka made 173 and 325/6.
3. Who scored a century for Karnataka?
KL Rahul scored 130 runs from 182 balls, including 14 fours and one six.
4. Who was Player of the Match?
KL Rahul was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 130.
5. Who was Mumbai’s highest scorer?
Akhil Herwadkar scored 60 in Mumbai’s first innings, while Akash Anand top-scored with 70 in the second.
6. Who took the most wickets for Mumbai?
Mohit Avasthi and Tushar Deshpande each took four wickets in Karnataka’s first innings.
7. What target did Karnataka chase?
Karnataka successfully chased a target of 325 runs, reaching 325/6 in 73.4 overs.
8. Did Karnataka qualify for the Ranji Trophy semi-finals?
Yes. Karnataka advanced to the Ranji Trophy semi-finals after defeating Mumbai by four wickets.
