Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarterfinal qualification eventualities: Which eight groups can qualify for knockouts?

The race for knockouts qualification intensifies because the Ranji Trophy 2023–24 season enters the final spherical of the group stage after producing an exciting spherical six that was adorned with enthralling attracts, spectacular wins, heart-wrenching losses, and enriching cricket.

The sixth spherical of 2023–24 Ranji Trophy matches ended on Monday with Services, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Railways, Saurashtra, Kerala, Vidarbha, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Assam registering wins within the Elite division.

From the Plate division, Hyderabad, which was relegated within the 2022–23 season after dropping six out of its seven video games, registered an innings victory over Meghalaya and made its method again into the Elite Group. The different finalist, Nagaland, secured an outright win in opposition to Mizoran and can compete within the Elite group subsequent season.

Qualification Scenario Explained

The prime two groups from the 4 elite teams will immediately qualify for the quarterfinals after enjoying seven league video games. The backside two groups from the 4 elite teams will likely be relegated on the finish of the group stage.

Similarly, for the Plate Group, the highest groups will play the semifinals (First vs Fourth, Second vs Third) and the winners of the final 4 phases will play the Plate Group last.

How Does the Points System Work?

A group that secures an outright win beneficial properties six factors, whereas a group successful the match by an innings or by 10 wickets will get one bonus level (7).

Teams that end the match with a primary innings lead however no outright win will likely be awarded three factors, and groups dropping on first innings foundation will rating one level.

In case of a tie on the primary innings with out an outright consequence, groups will get one level, and in a situation the place a tie occurs after completion of each the innings, groups will get three factors.

Team positions after Round 6

Elite Group A

(Teams: Vidarbha, Haryana, Saurashtra, Services, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Manipur)

In Group A, defending champion Saurashtra must safe one other outright win regardless of registering an enormous 218-run victory over Rajasthan in its newest encounter. With 22 factors, it’s in a decent race with Haryana (24 factors). It will face Manipur within the last group stage match that begins on February 19.

Vidarbha, having crushed Maharashtra convincingly by 10 wickets in spherical six, takes the Group A pole place with 27 factors and is poised to enter the knockout stage having registered 4 wins and dropping only one match and enjoying a draw. It subsequent faces Haryana in Nagpur and can goal to proceed its dominance.

Haryana, too, is within the race to make the quarterfinals after hammering Jharkhand by an innings and 205 runs. With three wins, one loss, and two attracts, Haryana has 24 factors and can subsequent face Vidarbha with a watch on the knockout berth. An outright win would possibly pole-vault the Ashok Menaria-led aspect into the knock-outs.

Services is tied on 22 factors with Saurashtra and has its qualification possibilities with an innings and 196 runs in opposition to Manipur. It subsequent faces Maharashtra, which is all however out of race together with the likes of Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Manipur.

Elite Group B

(Teams: Mumbai, Andhra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Assam, Bihar)

Mumbai is again in enterprise, and with 30 factors, it’s assured a spot within the quarterfinals. The Ajinkya Rahane-led aspect began with three straight wins in opposition to Bihar, Andhra, and Kerala earlier than dropping to Uttar Pradesh within the fourth spherical. The 41-time Ranji Trophy winner bounced again to beat Bengal by an innings and 4 runs earlier than Chhattisgarh pressured a attract Raipur.

Sitting fairly behind the home heavyweight is Andhra with 25 factors beneath its belt. The Hanuma Vihari-led aspect began its marketing campaign with a draw in opposition to Andhra on the coast of Visakhapatnam earlier than hitting the straps with three wins over Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Assam. It did come beneath fireplace in opposition to Mumbai, dropping the match, however recovered effectively to play a draw in opposition to Bengal and keep put within the race for a quarterfinal berth.

Other groups not performing have additionally helped each Mumbai and Andhra, as Kerala, with an detached outing is a distant third with simply 14 factors regardless of successful its spherical six match in opposition to Bengal. However, the 4 attracts in opposition to Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh didn’t increase the Sanju Samson-led aspect, and the large 232-run loss in opposition to Mumbai solely dented its possibilities of making it to the knockout stage.

Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, with 13 factors every, stand no probability of advancing past Round seven, together with Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.

Elite Group C

(Teams: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Railways, Tripura, Punjab, Chandigarh & Goa)

Karnataka aspect virtually gained a thriller in opposition to Tamil Nadu on the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, however Baba Aparajith and Vijay Shankar helped their aspect overcome the sixth-round scare with a defiant 125-run partnership for the sixth wicket that nullified Karnataka’s possibilities of securing an outright win. A match that went down the wire until nightfall, resulted in a draw.

For its last league sport a minimum of, Karnataka will miss the providers of Devdutt Padikkal, who smashed an excellent 151 in opposition to Tamil Nadu, because the 23-year-old southpaw has been included within the India Test squad as a substitute for KL Rahul.

Rahul, who picked up a proper quadriceps harm, is continuous his restoration on the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has been dominated out of the third Test in opposition to England in Rajkot, beginning February 15.

Indrajith phases the rescue act

Indrajith missed a century by simply two runs however made positive Tamil Nadu didn’t lose the plot, particularly at house, and salvaged a draw. Both the southern home heavyweights are in competition for a spot within the quarterfinals, with Karnataka main the desk with 24 factors after successful three, dropping one, and enjoying two attracts.

Karnataka started effectively with a seven-wicket win over Punjab earlier than taking place to Gujarat by a slender margin of six runs. It then performed a draw in opposition to Goa earlier than thumping Tripura and Railways by 29 runs and one wicket, respectively. It subsequent hosts Chandigarh in Hubli.

Tamil Nadu, in the meantime, has gained three video games and, with 22 factors, is en route to creating its method into the knockouts. The R Sai Kishore-led aspect registered its largest win thus far by securing an innings and 293-run victory in opposition to Chandigarh, which helped the aspect hold its nostril forward of different groups.

Registering wins in opposition to Railways and Goa meant it solely suffered a single loss thus far in opposition to Gujarat however bounced again strongly to remain in competition. The draw in opposition to Karnataka in spherical six would increase confidence among the many gamers, who confirmed backbone and character with their backs in opposition to the wall within the southern derby. There isn’t any want for soul looking out or inspiration as Indrajith (98, 194b, 3×4) along with his heroics with the bat, surprised critics and impressed his mates. What a thriller! It subsequent performs Punjab, and the Salem curator has a job in his palms.

Gujarat has an outdoor probability, as regardless of successful three video games, it simply has 19 factors and faces Goa in its final league sport in Porvorim. The two losses in opposition to Railways and Tripura have dented the Chintan Gaja-led aspect massively. Railways, Tripura, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Goa will likely be restricted to enjoying simply the ultimate spherical, harbouring aspirations for a knock–out match, subsequent season.

Elite Group D

(Teams: Madhya Pradesh, Baroda, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Puducherry, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh)

Madhya Pradesh takes pole place with three wins and as many attracts as with 26 factors, the Shubham Sharma-led aspect is poised to stake a declare within the quarterfinals. Not dropping a match comes as a boon for Madhya Pradesh, because it salvaged two attracts in opposition to Uttarakhand and Odisha earlier than belting out wins in opposition to Delhi and Pondicherry.

The aspect performed a draw in opposition to Himachal Pradesh after which gained its newest encounter in opposition to Baroda by an innings and 52 runs to warm-up for its last league sport in opposition to Jammu and Kashmir in Indore.

Baroda, with 23 factors, is one other contender for the knock-outs however suffered an innings defeat to group-toppers Madhya Pradesh. Two wins and two attracts makes the Vishnu Solanki aspect a pressure to reckon with. It’s subsequent problem is in opposition to Uttarakhand because the group will journey to the hills and can look to safe a win in opposition to the scenic backdrops of Dehradun.

Standing third and giving a troublesome battle is Jammu and Kashmir, producing distinctive outcomes. A knockout berth is definite sooner or later and even now, primarily based on mathematical calculations, one can not rule it out. In a sensational win in opposition to Pondicherry, left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Vanshraj Sharma snarred match hauls of 10-wicket every and scripted historical past to knock out Pondicherry.

The duo shared 20 wickets amongst themselves because the Shubham Khajuria-led aspect leapfrogged to the third place, forward of Uttarakhand, Delhi, Pondicherry, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh. While the remainder of the group’s performances are comprehensible given the shortage of expertise each in gamers and training employees, Delhi’s fall has been deplorable.

Pondicherry took a visit to the nationwide capital and prospered in chilly situations, with the observe being their ally, aiding swing and buy. Right-arm medium pacer Gaurav Yadav starred with a 10-wicket match haul to depart the Yash Dhull-led aspect pondering points each on and off the sphere as Pondicherry packed their luggage again house with a high quality nine-wicket win. Pondicherry whipped and cracked the backbone of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy unit, with medium-pacers Yadav and Abin Mathew dispensing a fairy story on chilly January mornings and breaching the fort of Kotla.