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Toss Winner - Karnataka won the toss and choose to bowl first
Karnataka won by 5 wickets
Defending champions Karnataka begin title defence against Jharkhand
We predict that Karnataka will defeat Jharkhand
| Tournament: | Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite, 2025-26 |
| Format: | odi |
| Venue: | Narendra Modi Stadium Gate 2, Ahmedabad, India |
| Toss Prediction: | To Bowl |
| Weather: | 22.2°C|Mist |
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Jharkhand face Karnataka in their opening fixture of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, with the contest set to be played at Ahmedabad on December 24, 2025, starting at 9:00 AM IST. With the tournament yet to begin, both teams will be eager to make a strong early statement in Elite Group A and set the tone for the rest of their campaign.
Karnataka arrive as the defending champions, having lifted the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season after defeating Vidarbha in the final. They carry strong momentum into this match, coming on the back of a five-match winning streak, and will be keen to continue their dominance in India’s premier domestic one-day competition. Jharkhand, meanwhile, will look at this opener as an opportunity to challenge the champions and gain early traction in the group.
While their recent form has been mixed, Jharkhand possess the talent to surprise stronger sides if they start well and apply pressure early. With Karnataka’s pedigree up against Jharkhand’s hunger to upset the holders, this opening clash promises an engaging start to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as both sides look to begin their campaigns on a winning note.
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Jharkhand beat Karnataka by 2 wickets
157/9 in 20.0 7.85
Jharkhand beat Karnataka by 2 wickets
Jharkhand enter the new Vijay Hazare Trophy season aiming to build consistency after a mixed but competitive campaign last year. In their last five matches of the previous season, Jharkhand recorded two wins and three losses, reflecting a side capable of strong performances but still searching for sustained momentum. Wins against Goa and Odisha showcased their batting depth and ability to defend totals, while defeats to stronger sides like Gujarat and Haryana highlighted areas that need tightening, particularly in death bowling and middle-overs consolidation.
Jharkhand finished the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy with 16 points from seven matches, placing third in Group A with a positive outlook despite missing out on the knockout stages. Their net run rate of 0.423 indicated that when they won, they did so convincingly. The team showed promise through a balanced combination of experienced domestic players and emerging talent, especially at the top of the order and in their spin department.
One of Jharkhand’s standout performances last season came in their final group match against Goa, where they secured an emphatic 31-run victory. Batting first after winning the toss, Jharkhand posted an imposing 320/7, driven by a superb century from Utkarsh Singh, who scored 102 off 120 balls. He was well supported by Kumar Kushagra, whose fluent 78 off 80 deliveries ensured the innings maintained momentum through the middle overs. With the ball, Jharkhand held their nerve as Anukul Roy’s four-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting Goa to 289/9, sealing a comprehensive team effort. If they can convert competitive starts into consistent wins, Jharkhand have the tools to challenge strongly in the group stages and push for qualification this time around.
Key players: Utkarsh Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Virat Singh, Anukul Roy
Utkarsh Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Virat Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Anukul Roy, Shahbaz Nadeem, Vikash Vishal, Kumar Deobrat, Varun Aaron, Monu Kumar, Rahul Shukla
Ishan Kishan, Kumar Kushagra, Robin Minz, Virat Singh, Anukul Roy, Utkarsh Singh, Sushant Mishra, Saurabh Shekhar, Vikash Singh, Shikhar Mohan, Shubh Sharma
Karnataka enter the new Vijay Hazare Trophy season as the defending champions, carrying the confidence of a dominant title run in the previous edition. Their recent form underlines that pedigree, with five consecutive wins to close out the 2024/25 campaign, including victories in the group stage, knockout rounds, and a commanding performance in the final. This consistency across high-pressure games reinforces Karnataka’s reputation as one of the most well-rounded one-day sides in Indian domestic cricket.
In their last five matches, Karnataka showcased balance and depth. They registered convincing wins against Saurashtra and Nagaland in the group stage, followed by narrow but crucial victories in the knockout phase against Baroda and Haryana. Whether batting first or chasing, Karnataka repeatedly found contributions across the lineup rather than relying on a single match-winner.
The highlight of their season was the final against Vidarbha, where Karnataka produced a complete performance to seal the title. Batting first, they posted an imposing 348/6, built on a magnificent 101 off 92 balls by Ravichandran Smaran and a rapid 79 off 42 from Abhinav Manohar. With the ball, Karnataka backed their total superbly, using disciplined pace and intelligent spin to restrict Vidarbha to 312 all out, sealing a 36-run victory.
Key performers continue to anchor this side. Mayank Agarwal was exceptional at the top, scoring 651 runs in 10 matches at an average of 93, providing stability and leadership. Ravichandran Smaran (433 runs, avg 72.17) emerged as a dependable middle-order pillar, while Shreyas Gopal (18 wickets in 10 matches, economy under 5) and Abhilash Shetty (17 wickets in 7 matches) gave Karnataka consistent wicket-taking options. With form, confidence, and championship experience on their side, Karnataka begin the new season as clear contenders to defend their crown once again.
Key players: Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, Abhilash Shetty
Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Smaran, Abhinav Manohar, Harshil Dharmani, Shreyas Gopal, Manvanth Kumar, Abhilash Shetty, Vasuki Koushik, Prasidh Krishna
Mayank Agarwal, Krishnan Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Abhilash Shetty, Dhruv Prabhakar, Shreyas Gopal, Smaran Ravichandran, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal, Vidyadhar Patil
The weather on match day in Ahmedabad is expected to be clear and dry. The temperature will range between a high of around 30 °C and a low of about 18 °C. No rain is forecast, and humidity will be manageable. Overall, conditions should support a complete contest with minimal weather interruptions.
The match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground, Motera, Ahmedabad, one of the secondary match venues within the world-class Narendra Modi Stadium complex. While smaller than the main ground, it offers excellent playing surfaces, modern facilities, and true wickets that suit limited-overs cricket. The B Ground regularly hosts domestic tournaments and provides consistent bounce and good carry for stroke-making.
At the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground, Motera, Ahmedabad, teams winning the toss generally prefer to bowl first. Recent domestic white-ball games here show a slight advantage for teams batting second, especially with the pitch remaining consistent through the innings. The team winning the toss should bowl first here.
Karnataka come into this fixture as the defending Vijay Hazare Trophy champions, carrying strong momentum and a dominant recent head-to-head record against Jharkhand. Their depth in batting, disciplined bowling unit, and big-match experience give them a clear advantage. Jharkhand will need a near-perfect performance to challenge the defending champion Karnataka’s well-rounded squad.
We predict that Karnataka will defeat Jharkhand
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