MD Nidheesh

Former India international Amay Khurasiya has stepped down as Kerala's head coach after a successful two-year tenure, guiding them to their maiden Ranji Trophy final. He is now set to take on a new challenge as the head coach of the Chhattisgarh team, aiming to nurture emerging talent and rebuild their cricketing structure.

Kerala's sharp decline from Ranji Trophy finalists to early exits has exposed underlying weaknesses. The departure of key all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has left a significant void, impacting the team's control and experience. Despite dedicated preparation, the squad struggled across all facets, highlighting a need for better planning and accountability to build a more resilient future.

Sanju Samson's career-defining 97* against West Indies in the T20 World Cup was followed by a candid admission of self-doubt. Despite a stop-start journey, he learned from greats and found inner peace through a "mental reset," ultimately leading India to the semifinals after early setbacks.

Two years back, MD Nidheesh was a disillusioned fast bowler. A late bloomer, he was already 25 but having a tough time in his first two seasons in first-class cricket. He was not penetrative enough and was dropped from the Kerala squad.

MD Nidheesh, a 34-year-old bowler from a humble background, delivered a stunning performance in the Ranji Trophy opener. He dismissed the aggressive Prithvi Shaw with a lethal inswinger for a duck, setting the tone for his impressive 4/42 haul. Nidheesh's dedication to honing his skills during the off-season paid off, proving he's a bowler who refuses to be underestimated.

MD Nidheesh's remarkable five-wicket haul significantly hindered Jammu and Kashmir, as they managed 228 for eight on the first day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in Pune. Nidheesh, supported by Basil Thampi, Aditya Sarwate, and Nedumankuzhy Basil, effectively dismantled the batting lineup with consistent performances.

The path treaded by Kerala's only two Test players so far - Tinu Yohannan and S Sreesanth - has given many budding youngsters over the years the aspiration to become a speedster in the state.

Rain-hit Thiruvananthapuram saw Maharashtra post 239, with MD Nidheesh taking 5/49. Old foe Rajneesh Gurbani then struck early, reducing Kerala to 35/3, which means that the hosts hold a deficit of 204 runs. Despite a challenging day, Kerala remains hopeful of a turnaround, with the match finely poised for a gripping conclusion.

Seamer Auqib Nabi's all-round performance led Jammu and Kashmir to gain control over Kerala on the second day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in Pune on Sunday. Nabi's impressive 5/36 restricted Kerala to 200/9, trailing by 80 runs. Jalaj Saxena's 67 provided some resistance for Kerala, but a lack of partnerships hurt their progress.

Within just three overs of the Ranji Trophy semifinal, the home supporters started getting jitters. A lot had happened in the short period. Kerala were sent in to bat by Vidarbha. The ball was shooting off from good length and there was swing too.

Vishnu Vinod continued his stellar run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring his second century of the tournament, to set up Kerala's 65-run win in a Group A game against Chhattisgarh at Alur in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Vishnu struck 123 off 91 balls with five fours and 11 sixes as Kerala notched up 296/9 after being put into bat. Chhattisgarh were bowled out for 231 in 46 overs in the chase.

Robin Uthappa continued his hot streak with the bat to score a record 11th century in Vijay Hazare Trophy to set up Kerala's seven-run win, their third on the trot, against Railways at Just Cricket Academy Ground in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Kerala are now top of the Elite Group C points table with 12 points from three games followed by Karnataka, Railways and UP who all have eight points from as many games.

Jammu and Kashmir set a challenging target of 399 for Kerala in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. Skipper Paras Dogra scored a century, while Kerala ended the day at 100 for 2. Yudhvir Singh claimed two early wickets. With Akshay Chandran and captain Sachin Baby unbeaten, Kerala need 299 runs on the final day to win.

Karun Nair was run out for 86 in a critical moment, but a strong partnership with Danish Malewar, who remains unbeaten on 138, helped Vidarbha recover to 254/4 against Kerala on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur. Vidarbha's innings struggled initially but was stabilised by the 215-run fourth-wicket stand.

Mumbai Indians have retained 18 players ahead of the 2019 IPL auction and released South African batsman Jean-Paul Duminy, seamers Pat Cummins (Australia) & Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) and Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya along with six domestic players - Saurabh Tiwary, Pradeep Sangwan, Sharad Lumba, Tajinder Singh Dhillon, UP pacer Mohsin Khan and Kerala's MD Nidheesh.

Jammu & Kashmir's captain Paras Dogra played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 73 to lead his team to 180 for three and an overall advantage in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. Despite Kerala's efforts, including a remarkable 112 from Salman Nizar, J&K extended their lead to 179 runs with seven wickets remaining.

KC Akshay claimed two wickets to help Kerala reduce Vidarbha to 45 for three on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final match which was truncated due to wet outfield on Thursday.

Kerala suffered a four-wicket defeat against Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy despite setting a target of 188. Divyan Hinganekar's all-round performance (2/24 and 43*) led Maharashtra to victory with one ball to spare. Hinganekar's late-innings blitz overshadowed Kerala's strong batting display, which included notable contributions from Rohan Kunnummal (45), Mohammed Azharuddeen (40), and Sachin Baby (40*).

Tamil Nadu ended it's campaign in this year's Ranji Trophy tournament by losing its final Group 'C' match to Baroda by 102 runs on Tuesday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad marked a stellar comeback after a five-month injury layoff with a resilient 91 against Kerala. He navigated a treacherous pitch and an early collapse, anchoring Maharashtra's innings. His patient, technically sound batting, alongside Jalaj Saxena's stoic 49, built a crucial partnership, showcasing a return to form and purpose.