From Irani heroics to Ranji rescue act: R Smaran keeps his run going with another big knock

VIJAYAWADA: For someone knocking on the doors of the Indian team, R Smaran had a modest start to the season. He managed 82 runs in three innings for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, but found his rhythm while representing Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup. He scored a crucial 68 before following it up with a match-winning 135 in Srinagar earlier this month.On Sunday, the 23-year-old carried that form into Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra. The added responsibility of leading the side in Devdutt Padikkal’s absence, in only his third season, did little to unsettle him.As established stars in the Karnataka line-up made an early beeline for the dressing room, Smaran appeared unperturbed, batting in his own zone. His well-crafted 126 pulled the former champions out of a hole after they had slumped to 9/3.“I think I’ve been batting really well. Obviously, the situation was that we were in a bit of a bother with four wickets down. After that, it was a matter of stretching our partnership. The mindset was always to play positive cricket and keep the scoreboard ticking,” Smaran said, reflecting on how he carried his Irani Cup momentum into the new season.He was quick to credit wicketkeeper-batter KL Shrijith, whose aggressive approach helped shift the pressure back on Andhra.“A lot of credit goes to Shrijith, the way he came in and took the momentum away immediately. He got a few boundaries, and that straightaway put a lot of pressure on them, which made my job easier,” he said.Having set the tone for what he hopes will be a productive season, the left-hander has his sights on a personal milestone. He fell 50 runs short of the 1,000-run mark last season and is keen to cross it this time, though he insists he is not burdening himself with expectations.“I didn’t come in with any expectations. The only thing that was running in my mind was that I missed out on scoring 1,000 runs last season and what I could achieve this season. I’m taking it one game at a time and ensuring that I’m winning games for my team whenever I can contribute,” he said.For Smaran, however, individual milestones take a back seat to Karnataka’s larger ambition. In the previous season, the team lost to Jammu and Kashmir in the final.“We came very close to winning the Ranji Trophy last season. But second place is just not good enough. The wait still goes on to get our hands on the trophy. So, the focus remains on winning it,” he said.For inspiration, Smaran & Co need not look far. Head coach R Vinay Kumar was the last captain to lead Karnataka to the title, in 2014-15.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.