By Admin 
Exactly 21 months ago, Chandigarh faced Karnataka for the first time in the Ranji Trophy at the KSCA Stadium here and managed to salvage a draw despite conceding the first-innings lead. Now, as Chandigarh returns to the same venue for its Elite Group-B fifth-round clash starting on Sunday, it finds itself grappling with the same issue it encountered in that match – an underperforming batting unit.
On Saturday, captain Manan Vohra identified it as the “major factor” behind his team’s dismal season so far. Three losses, coupled with the inability to obtain a first-innings lead in another fixture, have consigned Chandigarh to the bottom of the points table.
“We haven’t been able to turn things around with the bat, so individuals need to step up. If a couple of players can get those big scores, then the team will automatically get to that 400 mark. That’s what we’re looking to do in this game – just bat long and score those runs,” said Vohra.
“We just need to go out there and back ourselves a little more. To win a four-day game, you have to play every session with the same intensity.
“At times, when the team isn’t doing well, we retreat and let the pressure affect us. If we can absorb that pressure individually at the right moments and deliver, I think the team will be in a good place,” he added.
Karnataka, conversely, presents a well-balanced unit with strengths in both departments.
Karun Nair, Ravichandran Smaran, Abhinav Manohar, and skipper Mayank Agarwal have all been among the runs. Pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Mohsin Khan have been effective with the ball, while leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal has added further depth with his superb all-round form.
“As a team, we’re doing really well, and we want to carry that momentum into this game. We’re playing at home, and that gives us a bit of an advantage,” said Mayank.