Ranji Trophy: How Nagwaswalla, Gaja, and Patel Put Gujarat in Control Against Kerala

Gujarat turned their Ranji Trophy 2026/27 Match 68 fixture against Kerala into a commanding home performance at Motera’s Narendra Modi Stadium Ground A, driven by a swift bowling collapse and a maiden double century. The ongoing battle between Gujarat vs Kerala saw the host team take charge after fast bowlers Chintan Gaja and Arzan Nagwaswalla tore through Kerala’s lower order right after the Tea break on Day 1.

In this fourth-round Ranji Trophy semifinal match in Ahmedabad, Gujarat entered seeking a form reversal following recent losses, relying on familiar environs to regain their winning rhythm. Kerala arrived aiming for a hard-hitting comeback, but the trajectory of Gujarat vs Kerala tilted sharply toward the hosts once the new ball was taken on the opening day.

Why did Kerala collapse from 277 for six?

Kerala was positioned to put up a formidable first-innings score when they reached 277 for six in Motera. The entire match shifted when Gujarat captain and pace leader Chintan Gaja took the new ball alongside fellow speedster Arzan Nagwaswalla after Tea.

Nagwaswalla and Gaja produced a lethal spell of new-ball bowling, picking up two wickets each. Kerala’s remaining batters offered little defense, collapsing from 277 for six to 279 all out shortly after Tea. Kerala lost their final four wickets while adding just two runs to the scorecard.

For instance, when a team in first-class cricket loses four wickets while adding only two runs—dropping from 277/6 to 279 all out—it strips away all batting momentum and hands total control of the match to the opposition. That sudden four-wicket burst gave Gujarat the exact leverage they needed in their home conditions.

How Chintan Gaja and Nagwaswalla set up the damage

Gujarat’s pace duo maintained intense pressure on Kerala’s top and middle order throughout the first innings. Both Nagwaswalla and Gaja consistently hit tight lines, forcing false shots and restricting scoring opportunities before taking the fresh red ball.

Explaining how Gujarat managed to keep Kerala under constant pressure during their bowling performance, Gaja said, “We bowled in the right areas.” That disciplined approach allowed Gujarat to bowl Kerala out for 279, setting up an ideal baseline for Gujarat’s batters at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground A.

Urvil Patel’s 210 leads Gujarat’s scorecard

Gujarat made the most of their bowling team’s effort when they took to the crease at Ground A of the Narendra Modi Stadium. Wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel produced the standout individual performance of the match, smashing an unbeaten 210 against Kerala’s attack to register his maiden double century in first-class cricket.

Patel’s marathon 210-run knock guided Gujarat to 429 for seven in their first innings. By Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy semifinal, Gujarat sat at 429/7, trailing Kerala by 28 runs in the overall first-innings scorecard. Nagwaswalla and Gaja’s opening spells combined with Patel’s unbeaten double hundred to put Gujarat firmly in command as the ball-by-ball action progressed towards the final day.

Where the Senior Women’s T20 match fits in

The state-level contest between Gujarat and Kerala extended beyond the men’s Ranji Trophy red-ball fixture in Ahmedabad to include the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2026. In Match 93 of that tournament, held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Kerala Women faced Gujarat Women in a short-format match.

Kerala Women delivered a clinical display in Lucknow, securing a decisive victory against Gujarat Women. While Kerala took the T20 honors in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala’s men’s team struggled to contain Gujarat’s pace attack and Patel’s double hundred at Motera.

Both fixtures drew significant attention from fans following Gujarat’s clash with Kerala on live scorecards and streaming platforms across India, with live updates tracking every key moment of Match 68 in Motera and Match 93 in Lucknow.