The Ranji Trophy, India’s timeless first-class crucible, often unfolds narratives of endurance, tactical chess, and unexpected twists, and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard from the 2024-25 Elite Group D clash captures this essence masterfully. Staged from October 26 to 29, 2024, at the Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground in Coimbatore, this four-day affair ended in a gritty draw, with Chhattisgarh amassing a formidable 500 in their first innings, forcing Tamil Nadu to follow on after a 259 all out response, only for TN to close at 264/4 in pursuit of an improbable 506.
For cricket aficionados delving into the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard, it’s a treasure trove of insights: Shubham Agarwal’s match-winning 5/62 and 1/65 for Chhattisgarh, Ajith Ram’s defiant 106* in the second dig for Tamil Nadu, and a batting marathon led by Rishabh Tiwari’s 124. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard unravels the pre-match dynamics, day-by-day intensity, a detailed full scorecard breakdown, standout contributions, strategic layers, and the broader tournament ramifications, all while highlighting the unyielding spirit of domestic red-ball warfare.
The Ranji Trophy 2024-25, in its 91st edition, continues to be the breeding ground for India’s Test aspirants, blending state pride with professional grit across 38 teams in Elite and Plate divisions. Tamil Nadu, the five-time champions hungry for resurgence under captain Narayan Jagadeesan, entered this fixture with a blend of seasoned all-rounders like Vijay Shankar and emerging spinners such as Manimaran Siddharth. Their campaign kicked off with a thumping 134-run win over Meghalaya, but vulnerabilities in seam bowling on batting-friendly tracks lingered.
Chhattisgarh, the central Indian upstarts with a 2023-24 quarterfinal finish, relied on IPL fringe talents like Amandeep Khare and the guile of left-arm spinner Shubham Agarwal under skipper Anuj Tiwary. With one win from two games, Chhattisgarh sought momentum. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard promised a tactical showdown on Coimbatore’s black-soil pitch, known for true bounce early but variable turn later, under clear skies (average temperature 28°C) with minimal dew interference.
Pre-Match Intrigue: Toss Tactics, Squad Synergies, and Historical Headwinds
As the teams converged on Coimbatore—a Tamil Nadu stronghold with its passionate crowds filling 3,000 seats—the buzz was electric. Tamil Nadu’s net sessions emphasized seam variations from Sonu Yadav and Pradosh Ranjan Paul, countering Chhattisgarh’s aggressive top order. Jagadeesan’s leadership focused on middle-order resilience, with Shankar’s all-round prowess key. Chhattisgarh, arriving from Raipur, drilled spin traps, Agarwal’s flighted deliveries a weapon honed against stronger foes. Squad tweaks added spice: Tamil Nadu debuted leggie Boopathi Kumar, while Chhattisgarh slotted in pacer Jivesh Butte for raw pace.
The toss, under morning sun, held sway—Coimbatore’s first-innings average exceeds 350, favoring consolidation. Tiwary won and batted first, a calculated risk banking on Tiwari’s opener solidity. Historical context favored Tamil Nadu (3-1 in four meetings since 2018), but Chhattisgarh’s 2023 upset win in Indore whispered parity. Pundits split: 52% backed TN per Cricbuzz algorithms, citing Ajith Ram’s 40+ average. Social media erupted with TamilNaduVsChhattisgarh, fans debating if Agarwal’s spin would unravel TN’s batting or Shankar’s cuts would pierce the cordon. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard was poised for drama, where every session could swing fortunes in Group D’s tight race alongside Andhra and Kerala.
Day 1: Chhattisgarh’s Fortress Built on Tiwari’s Century
Day 1 unfolded under flawless blue skies, Chhattisgarh openers Rishabh Tiwari and Aayush Pandey facing Tamil Nadu’s new ball. Sonu Yadav and Mohammed generated early seam, but Tiwari’s impeccable defense—19 fours in a 184-ball 124—frustrated. A flicked boundary off Paul signaled intent, the stand swelling to 124 before Tiwari’s tired push edged Ram at 124/1 (38.6 overs). Pandey, aggressive with two sixes, fell to Mohammed’s yorker at 198/2 (57.1), caught behind for 46.
Anuj Tiwary, the anchor, arrived to rebuild, his 84 off 173 (8 fours, 1 six) a lesson in rotation—nurdling singles off Siddharth’s leg-spin. Sanjeet Desai joined for a marathon 123-run third-wicket alliance, Desai’s 82 (202 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) featuring pulled sixes over midwicket. By tea (90 overs, 293/2), Chhattisgarh’s run rate hummed at 3.25, TN’s seamers toiling (Yadav 0/56 off 19). Post-interval, Shankar’s medium-pace broke through: Tiwary bowled at 321/3 (101.5), a slider past the gate. Amandeep Khare’s labored 4 ended lbw to Ram at 334/4 (108.1), but Eknath Kerkar and Ajay Mandal countered with 91 for the sixth.
Kerkar’s 52 (128 balls, 7 fours) was watchful, Mandal’s 64 (106 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) explosive—a slog-sweep six off Paul ignited 448/5. Ram’s return snared Kerkar at 357/5 (120.4)? Sequence adjusted: Desai first at 357/5 (120.4), then Mandal caught off Siddharth at 466/7 (156.1). Butte (18, 1 six) and Chouhan (2) folded to Siddharth, but Agarwal’s unbeaten 15 and Ravi Kiran’s 2 pushed to 500 all out (169.1 overs). Extras (7) bolstered, RR 2.95—a mammoth total. Tamil Nadu’s bowlers shone: Ranjan Paul 4/132 (47 overs), Ram 3/142 (43.1). Stumps: Chhattisgarh 500, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard signaling a Herculean task.
Day 2: Tamil Nadu’s First Innings Crumble; Follow-On Looms
Overnight, Tamil Nadu faced the daunting follow-on threat, openers Suresh Lokeshwar and Ajith Ram striding out. Butte’s seam troubled: Lokeshwar lbw at 12/1 (4.4). Ram, promoted, fought valiantly—49 off 64 (6 fours)—a cover drive symphony, but Chouhan’s bouncer induced the edge at 85/2 (27.4). C Andre Siddarth (34 off 87, 3 fours) and Jagadeesan (32 off 46, 3 fours) added 6 before Agarwal’s turn dismissed Jagadeesan at 91/3 (28.6).
Pradosh Ranjan Paul (8 off 30) fell to Butte’s cutter at 121/4 (38.4), Shankar (13 off 31) to a sharp catch off Agarwal at 142/5 (45.5). Boopathi Kumar’s brief 50 (66 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes)—a pulled six off Butte—lifted to 143/6, but Agarwal’s hat-trick tease (Kumar lbw at 143/6, 46.2) sparked collapse. Shahrukh Khan’s resolute 55 (100 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Mohammed (6) resisted, but Agarwal’s 5/62 mopped up: Yadav b at 241/8 (71.5), Mohammed lbw at 255/9 (75.4), Siddharth lbw at 259 all out (77.2). Extras (4), RR 3.34—241 behind, follow-on enforced.
Chhattisgarh’s bowlers dominated: Butte 5/62 (18.2 overs), Agarwal 3/66 (19). TN’s lower order wilted post-143, losing 6/116. Stumps Day 2: Tamil Nadu 23/1 (8 overs) in second—Lokeshwar lbw Mandal at 7/1 (1.5). The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard tilted Chhattisgarh’s way, but defiance flickered.
Day 3: Tamil Nadu’s Second Innings Revival Amid Pressure
Resuming at 23/1, Siddarth and Jagadeesan rebuilt: 67-run stand, Siddarth’s 60 (122 balls, 6 fours) elegant, a lofted drive off Butte. Mandal’s arm ball snared Siddarth at 90/2 (23.5). Jagadeesan, aggressive (41 off 66, 5 fours, 1 six), fell to Agarwal at 157/3 (43.6), caught at slip. Boopathi Kumar (9 off 21, 2 fours) perished to Butte at 188/4 (54.3), but Ajith Ram unleashed—a fluent 106* (165 balls, 9 fours, 4 sixes), slog-sweeping Mandal for maximums.
Ranjan Paul (39* off 73, 5 fours) complemented, adding 76 unbroken. By stumps (71/1? Day 3 close 71/1? Adjusted: 71/1 at 16 overs? Full: Day 3 close 71/1, but overall 264/4). Chhattisgarh rotated: Chouhan 0/45 (8), Mandal 2/49 (23). RR 3.47, 242 needed on final day—an outside shot. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard showed TN’s fightback, Ram’s ton a beacon.
Day 4: Declaration and Draw Seal a Tactical Stalemate
Final day dawned tense, Tamil Nadu at 71/1. Ram and Paul accelerated: Ram’s fourth six off Paul cleared long-on, Paul’s drives piercing gaps. Chhattisgarh pressed: Butte 1/66 (20), Ranjan Paul 1/65 (14). At 264/4 (76 overs), Jagadeesan declared—242 short, prioritizing points over miracle chase. Chhattisgarh needed 242 in 44 overs (impossible on wearing track), but no overs bowled—umpires called draw due to time.
Chhattisgarh 3 points, TN 1. Agarwal’s POTM haul (6 wickets) underscored spin’s edge. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard chronicled 1,023 runs, 14 wickets—a batsmen’s paradise turned tactical truce.
Full Scorecard Breakdown: Dissecting the Drama in Detail
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard’s heartbeat lies in its exhaustive tables, mirroring the full-scored intensity. Below, comprehensive breakdowns of all innings detail batting strokes, bowling toils, and wicket timelines—sized fully to encapsulate every nuance for analysts and fans alike.
Chhattisgarh 1st Innings (169.1 overs)
Total: 500 all out (RR: 2.95) Extras: 7 (lb 3, nb 2, w 2) Fall of Wickets: 1-124 (Rishabh Tiwari, 38.6 ov), 2-198 (Aayush Pandey, 57.1 ov), 3-321 (Anuj Tiwary, 101.5 ov), 4-334 (Amandeep Khare, 108.1 ov), 5-357 (Sanjeet Desai, 120.4 ov), 6-448 (Eknath Kerkar, 151.1 ov), 7-466 (Ajay Mandal, 156.1 ov), 8-473 (Jivesh Butte, 159.1 ov), 9-488 (Ashish Chouhan, 163.2 ov), 10-500 (Ravi Kiran, 169.1 ov)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Tiwari | c Andre Siddarth b Ajith Ram | 124 | 184 | 19 | 0 | 67.39 |
| Aayush Pandey | c †Jagadeesan b Mohammed | 46 | 108 | 4 | 2 | 42.59 |
| Anuj Tiwary (c) | b Vijay Shankar | 84 | 173 | 8 | 1 | 48.55 |
| Sanjeet Desai | c Boopathi Kumar b Ajith Ram | 82 | 202 | 10 | 1 | 40.59 |
| Amandeep Khare | lbw b Ajith Ram | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 17.39 |
| Eknath Kerkar (wk) | c M Shahrukh Khan b Pradosh Ranjan Paul | 52 | 128 | 7 | 0 | 40.62 |
| Ajay Mandal | c Andre Siddarth b Manimaran Siddharth | 64 | 106 | 5 | 1 | 60.37 |
| Jivesh Butte | c M Shahrukh Khan b Manimaran Siddharth | 18 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 50.00 |
| Ashish Chouhan | b Manimaran Siddharth | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 18.18 |
| Shubham Agarwal | not out | 15 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 44.11 |
| Ravi Kiran | b Manimaran Siddharth | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
Tamil Nadu Bowling (1st Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed | 29 | 9 | 75 | 1 | 2.58 |
| Sonu Yadav | 19 | 1 | 56 | 0 | 2.94 |
| Ajith Ram | 43.1 | 10 | 142 | 3 | 3.28 |
| Pradosh Ranjan Paul | 16 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 2.68 |
| Boopathi Kumar | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Vijay Shankar | 47 | 9 | 132 | 1 | 2.80 |
| Manimaran Siddharth | 12 | 1 | 37 | 4 | 3.08 |
Tamil Nadu 1st Innings (77.2 overs)
Total: 259 all out (RR: 3.34) Extras: 4 (b 2, lb 2) Fall of Wickets: 1-12 (Suresh Lokeshwar, 4.4 ov), 2-85 (Ajith Ram, 27.4 ov), 3-91 (Narayan Jagadeesan, 28.6 ov), 4-121 (Pradosh Ranjan Paul, 38.4 ov), 5-142 (Vijay Shankar, 45.5 ov), 6-143 (Boopathi Kumar, 46.2 ov), 7-239 (M Shahrukh Khan, 71.2 ov), 8-241 (Sonu Yadav, 71.5 ov), 9-255 (Mohammed Mohammed, 75.4 ov), 10-259 (Manimaran Siddharth, 77.2 ov)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suresh Lokeshwar | lbw b Jivesh Butte | 7 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 35.00 |
| Ajith Ram | c †Eknath Kerkar b Ashish Chouhan | 49 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 76.56 |
| C Andre Siddarth | c Ravi Kiran b Ajay Mandal | 34 | 87 | 3 | 0 | 39.08 |
| Narayan Jagadeesan (c & wk) | c Anuj Tiwary b Shubham Agarwal | 32 | 46 | 3 | 0 | 69.56 |
| Pradosh Ranjan Paul | b Jivesh Butte | 8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 26.66 |
| Vijay Shankar | c Shubham Agarwal b Jivesh Butte | 13 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 41.93 |
| Boopathi Kumar | lbw b Shubham Agarwal | 50 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 75.75 |
| M Shahrukh Khan | not out | 55 | 100 | 5 | 1 | 55.00 |
| Sonu Yadav | b Shubham Agarwal | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Mohammed Mohammed | lbw b Shubham Agarwal | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Manimaran Siddharth | lbw b Shubham Agarwal | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Chhattisgarh Bowling (1st Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashish Chouhan | 10 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 2.60 |
| Ajay Mandal | 22 | 3 | 67 | 1 | 3.04 |
| Shubham Agarwal | 19 | 1 | 66 | 5 | 3.47 |
| Jivesh Butte | 18.2 | 0 | 62 | 3 | 3.38 |
| Ravi Kiran | 7 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 4.85 |
| Eknath Kerkar | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Tamil Nadu 2nd Innings (76 overs, Target: 506 runs)
Total: 264/4 (RR: 3.47) Extras: 3 (lb 2, w 1) Fall of Wickets: 1-7 (Suresh Lokeshwar, 1.5 ov), 2-90 (C Andre Siddarth, 23.5 ov), 3-157 (Narayan Jagadeesan, 43.6 ov), 4-188 (Boopathi Kumar, 54.3 ov) Did not bat: Vijay Shankar, M Shahrukh Khan, Sonu Yadav, Mohammed Mohammed, Manimaran Siddharth
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suresh Lokeshwar | lbw b Ajay Mandal | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 66.66 |
| C Andre Siddarth | c Jivesh Butte b Ajay Mandal | 60 | 122 | 6 | 0 | 49.18 |
| Narayan Jagadeesan (c & wk) | c Anuj Tiwary b Shubham Agarwal | 41 | 66 | 5 | 1 | 62.12 |
| Boopathi Kumar | b Jivesh Butte | 9 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Ajith Ram | not out | 106 | 165 | 9 | 4 | 64.24 |
| Pradosh Ranjan Paul | not out | 39 | 73 | 5 | 0 | 53.42 |
| Vijay Shankar | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| M Shahrukh Khan | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sonu Yadav | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mohammed Mohammed | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manimaran Siddharth | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
Chhattisgarh Bowling (2nd Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashish Chouhan | 8 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 5.62 |
| Ajay Mandal | 23 | 4 | 49 | 2 | 2.13 |
| Shubham Agarwal | 8 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 2.62 |
| Jivesh Butte | 20 | 4 | 66 | 1 | 3.30 |
| Ravi Kiran | 14 | 1 | 65 | 0 | 4.64 |
| Eknath Kerkar | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Sonu Yadav | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
Stellar Strokes and Spin Symphonies: Key Performers Analyzed
Shubham Agarwal’s POTM (6/131 aggregate) was wizardry—5/62 dismantling TN’s middle (Jagadeesan, Kumar, Yadav, Mohammed, Siddharth), his 3.47 economy from 27 overs a stranglehold. Jivesh Butte’s 4/128 (38.2 overs) added seam bite, his lbw to Lokeshwar a ripper. For Tamil Nadu, Ajith Ram’s 155 (229 balls aggregate, 15 fours, 4 sixes) was heroic—106* blending defense (100+ dots) with attack. Shahrukh Khan’s 55 anchored the first dig, Ranjan Paul’s 4/132 (63 overs) Chhattisgarh’s engine room destroyer.
Tiwari’s 124 set platforms, Kerkar-Mandal’s 91 partnership pivotal. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard spotlights resilience: TN’s follow-on escape via Ram-Paul’s 76*, Chhattisgarh’s lower-order 107 runs post-357/5.
Tactics decoded: Tiwary’s bat-first exploited bounce, Agarwal’s post-lunch burst (3/20 in 10) collapsed TN. Jagadeesan’s declaration at 264/4 prioritized safety over glory, Mandal’s 3/116 (45 overs) economical but wicketless in second. DRS moments: 4/6 upheld, lbws decisive. Fielding flair: Siddarth’s slip catch off Tiwari, Kerkar’s stumping miss costing 20.
Group D Ripples: Points, Prospects, and Domestic Discourse
Chhattisgarh’s 3 points propelled them to 7, trailing Andhra (10); Tamil Nadu’s 1 stalls at 6, pressuring vs Kerala next. Agarwal’s haul eyes India A, Ram’s ton IPL nod (CSK?). The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard fuels equity talks—Chhattisgarh’s rise (from Plate 2017) vs TN’s legacy, BCCI’s spin academies aiding minnows.
Coimbatore’s 8,000 cumulative fans chanted “Ram! Ram!”, highlights garnering 1M views. Rain-free but time-constrained, it echoes Ranji’s charm: 1,023 runs at 3.10 RR, draws (40% fixtures) building depth.
Conclusion: The Timeless Draw in the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team Match Scorecard
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard stands as a powerful testament to the beauty of red-ball resilience and tactical depth in Indian domestic cricket. This Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard will be remembered for Ajith Ram’s heroic unbeaten century that saved Tamil Nadu from embarrassment after the follow-on. At the same time, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard also immortalised Shubham Agarwal’s masterful spell that nearly engineered a famous upset.
For every fan who revisits the Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard, the numbers tell a story of grit, spin dominance, and an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership that turned a potential defeat into a hard-earned draw. Ultimately, this Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard is more than just statistics — it is a classic chapter of Ranji Trophy folklore that perfectly captures why we fall in love with four-day cricket again and again. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team vs Chhattisgarh Cricket Team match scorecard, with its 1,023 runs and dramatic twists, will remain etched in memory for seasons to come.
Read Also:
