Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has announced the 35-member probable squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.

The side includes the likes of KL Rahul, Manish Pandey and Karun Nair. Apart from them, regulars like R Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun have also been included. All-rounder Stuart Binny also finds a place in the team.

Ravikumar Samarth and Krishnappa Gowtham, who were part of the India A side for South Africa tour, are the other two players in the team. It will be an opportunity for them to perform in the upcoming season and get closer to a national call-up.

Manish Pandey and KL Rahul are expected to miss most of Ranji Trophy season due to the mega home season, whereas, Karun Nair might join them if called up for the national side. At present, Nair along with Samarth and Gowtham is a part of the Duleep Trophy that will kick from September 7.

Interestingly, the Karnataka selectors have announced the squad just three days after the start of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL), which gives an indication that the players who will perform in the league will not be drafted in the state side straight away. They have to perform on a regular basis in other state organised tournaments to find a place in the team.

Karnataka is without their experience player Robin Uthappa this season, as he has shifted his base to Saurashtra. He was dropped from the Ranji Trophy side for the quarter-final last season and was again overlooked for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which forced him to switch his base for the upcoming season.

Unavailability of Uthappa has opened the doors for many other youngsters.

Here is Karnataka’s Ranji probable squad –