By Admin 
Wicketkeeper-batter Kruthik Krishna and left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty have been rewarded with spots in Karnataka’s 15-man squad for its Ranji Trophy opener against Saurashtra in Rajkot from October 15.
The duo turned in fine performances in the recently concluded Dr (Capt.) K. Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament, with Kruthik starring in KSCA Secretary’s XI’s run to the final by scoring 349 runs (including four half-centuries), and Shikhar, 20, taking 20 wickets for KSCA Colts from three matches.
Spin has been an area of concern for Mayank Agarwal & Co. in the recent past. While the seasoned Shreyas Gopal will be the leader, trust has been reposed in the likes of Shikhar and another young off-break bowler in 22-year-old Mohsin Khan, who debuted last season and played two matches.
Left-arm spinner Hardik Raj, 19, has been left out after a lacklustre performance in the Thimmappiah Tournament, where he took just three wickets from two matches.
Expectedly, National team players like K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna have been left out, for the contest will commence just a day after the second Test between India and the West Indies concludes in Delhi.
The squad: Mayank Agarwal (Capt.), Karun Nair, R. Smaran, K.L. Shrijith (wk), K.V. Aneesh, Abhinav Manohar, Nikin Jose, V. Vyshak, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna (wk), Shikar Shetty, Mohsin Khan, Abhilash Shetty, M. Venkatesh.