Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Smaran Aims to Play for India in All Formats
A cricketer named Ravichandran Smaran scored more runs than anyone else in India's big domestic tournament, the Ranji Trophy, last season.
He made 950 runs in 14 innings and helped his team, Karnataka, reach the final.
Now he is getting ready for the new season, starting with the Duleep Trophy.
Smaran says it is important to move from white-ball cricket, like the IPL, back to red-ball cricket.
He is using local matches in Karnataka to practice this change.
He is also practicing special shots like the sweep and reverse sweep to play well against spinners.
Smaran plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL and was kept by them for the 2026 season.
His big dream is to play for India in all three formats of the game.
He also wants his Karnataka team to win the Ranji Trophy this year.
Ravichandran Smaran was the highest run-getter in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season with 950 runs in 14 innings.
He will launch his domestic campaign in the Duleep Trophy for South Zone at the BCCI CoE later this month.
Smaran says Karnataka state league matches alongside seniors such as Shreyas Gopal are helping him shift from white-ball to red-ball cricket.
He is working on shots like the sweep and reverse sweep to counter quality spinners.
Retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2026, Smaran wants to represent India in all formats.
- Who
- Ravichandran Smaran, the 23-year-old left-handed Karnataka batter who was the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy top scorer
- What
- Preparing for the new domestic season, including the Duleep Trophy, while aiming for national selection in all formats
- When
- After the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, ahead of the Duleep Trophy later this month
- Where
- India, including the BCCI Centre of Excellence (Duleep Trophy venue) and Karnataka state league matches
- Why
- To set the tone for the domestic season and remain in the reckoning for the Indian national team
- 2025-26 Ranji Trophy
- 950 runs in 14 innings; highest run-getter
- Team
- Karnataka (reached Ranji Trophy final)
- Age
- 23
- Batting style
- Left-hand batter
- Upcoming tournament
- Duleep Trophy for South Zone at BCCI CoE, later this month
- Last First-Class match
- Ranji Trophy final vs Jammu and Kashmir at Hubballi, February
- IPL 2025 performance
- 19 runs in six matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad
- T20 strike rate / List A average
- 155 strike rate; 50.33 average