The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) will kick off its new season with the Dr (Capt) K Thimmappiah Memorial tournament from Thursday, featuring some of the state’s leading and upcoming names. India pacer Prasidh Krishna headlines the line-up as he returns to domestic action after an eventful England tour, where he claimed 14 wickets across three Tests. With a home series against the West Indies approaching, the four-day format competition offers the 29-year-old valuable red-ball preparation. Batter R Smaran, Karnataka’s top scorer in last season’s Ranji Trophy with 516 runs at an average of 64.50, will lead the KSCA XI. Smaran narrowly missed out on a Duleep Trophy berth this year but will look to start strong against formidable opponents such as Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Baroda. His side also includes IPL regulars Shreyas Gopal, Vidwath Kaverappa and KL Shrijth. Mumbai, meanwhile, are bolstered by the presence of India batter Ajinkya Rahane, adding further depth to the tournament.
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The event will also see Samit Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, in action for the KSCA Secretary’s XI under captain Nikin Jose. Alongside KSCA XI and Secretary’s XI, the state association has also fielded President’s XI and Colts XI for the competition, which will be played across venues in Bengaluru and Mysuru.
