Tons-up Rohan Kunnummal seal victory for Kerala

Not typically does a staff chase down 214 from 41 overs on a fourth-day pitch within the Ranji Trophy. However Kerala romped residence with overs to spare towards Gujarat in an Elite Group A recreation on Sunday, due to Rohan Kunnummal’s rapid-fire century.

The 23-year-old, on a red-hot streak, hit an unbeaten 106 off 87 balls (12×4, 3×6) in Rajkot, notching up his third consecutive hundred within the course of. The opener had scored 129 within the first innings, on the heels of his 107 towards Meghalaya within the earlier recreation. Kerala had crushed Meghalaya by an innings and 166 runs of their opening fixture. They trumped Gujarat by eight wickets. Captain Sachin Child’s 62 off 76 balls immensely contributed to the win as nicely.

Rohan didn’t enable the Gujarat bowlers to calm down in both innings, enjoying nicely each off the entrance foot and again foot, and likewise taking the aerial route, by way of inside-out cowl drives and flicks over mid-wicket. Pull was one other productive shot for him.

“I’ve been batting nicely however I didn’t anticipate to attain three centuries in as many innings. Probably the most satisfying factor is that I’ve been capable of contribute to the staff’s trigger in our wins,” Rohan advised indianexpress.com.

“We wished to win the sport however knew that the fourth innings chase could possibly be difficult. At tea, Tinu sir (coach Tinu Yohannan) advised me to hold on batting usually and if I did that runs would come simply. It was good that Sachin Child was batting with me. He guided me by way of the innings and made certain that there was no strain,” he added.

Child was filled with reward for the teenager. “Rohan has been working actually arduous on his recreation. He isn’t a single-format participant and has been in good type throughout T20s, one-dayers and now four-day video games. We missed opener after Jagadeesh retired. Now with him and Rahul P coming by way of, we have now our opening issues sorted.”

Rohan has risen by way of the ranks, staying prolific throughout all age-group competitions. He made his first-class debut towards Rajasthan in January 2020. Out for 8 within the first innings, he sustained an ankle damage and needed to miss the remainder of the match and the season. The Covid-induced break compelled him to bide his time and wait for 2 extra years to play one other Ranji recreation.

Recuperating from the damage, Rohan made full use of the Covid break and labored on his health with coach Vysakh Krishna, now the Kerala staff’s power coach, at his hometown Kozhikode.

“My power and stamina have improved loads. Earlier, I used to be very lean and used to get drained rapidly. The power and conditioning periods with Vysakh helped me grow to be fitter and play longer innings. Additionally, I can play lofted photographs extra successfully now,” stated Rohan, who was the very best run-getter (264) for Kerala within the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season.

Rohan owes a lot of his growth to his father Sushil Kunnummal, a university-level participant again within the day. Sushil would bowl numerous deliveries to a younger Rohan, utilizing a tennis ball from 13 yards out within the yard, at his residence in Koyilandy. The daddy-son duo nonetheless follows the routine.

“I feel I’ve developed the flexibility to play tempo bowling higher due to the drills I’ve been doing with my father, utilizing the tennis ball. We typically practise with a tape-ball too. My reflexes, I feel, have quickened resulting from this and I’ve time to play my photographs,” stated Rohan.

Vinod, Nidheesh contribute

In addition to Rohan and Sachin Child, Kerala had different noteworthy contributors on this recreation. Quick bowler Nidheesh MD took a five-for within the first innings in difficult circumstances. Basil Thampi gave essential breakthroughs and completed with a six-wicket match haul. Vishnu Vinod scored a well timed hundred to make sure that his staff took the first-innings lead. Jalaj Saxena wrapped up the Gujarat second innings on the fourth day, giving the batsmen simply sufficient time to execute a medical chase. All of them contributed to a memorable win that took Kerala degree on factors with Madhya Pradesh. The 2 groups, on 13 factors every, will face one another within the subsequent recreation to determine the group-toppers.

Temporary scores: Gujarat 388 (Het Patel 185, Karan Patel 120; Nidheesh MD 5/54, Basil Thampi 4/118) & 264 (Karan Patel 81, Umang Kumar 70; Jalaj Saxena 4/57, Sijomon Joseph 3/48) misplaced to Kerala 439 (Rohan Kunnummal 129, Vishnu Vinod 113, Sachin Child 53; Siddharth Desai 5/132, Arzan Nagwaswalla 3/102) & 214/2 (Rohan Kunnummal 106*, Sachin Child 62) by 8 wickets.