KL Rahul has decided to miss Karnataka’s campaign in the knockout stages of the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy, opting for a break following a demanding Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Rahul, who played in all five Tests of the recently concluded series, has expressed the need to recover and recharge after an intense period of international cricket. His absence from the knockout rounds will be a significant loss for Karnataka, as they head into the crucial phase of the tournament without their star batter.
The knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy are set to take place in Vadodara, and Karnataka, now captained by Mayank Agarwal, will look to continue their journey without one of their most experienced players. Karnataka will still have a strong squad, with notable names such as Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom were part of India’s Test squad in Australia. Padikkal, who played in the first Test in Perth, and Prasidh, who made a late appearance in the final Test, will be key players for Karnataka in the knockout rounds. Their experience at the international level could prove invaluable in high-pressure matches.
However, Karnataka has also been dealt a blow with the injury-related exclusion of fast bowler V. Vyshak, who has been ruled out of the tournament. Vyshak’s absence leaves a gap in Karnataka's pace attack, which will need to be filled by other bowlers in the squad. Despite these setbacks, Karnataka will remain confident, as they have a solid lineup that includes experienced players like vice-captain Shreyas Gopal, along with promising talents such as Nikin Jose and Vidyadhar Patil, who have shown their potential in domestic cricket.
Karnataka will face Baroda in the quarterfinals, and while the team will miss key players like Rahul and Vyshak, they will rely on the collective strength of the squad to push for further success in the competition. The team’s depth, along with the leadership of Agarwal, will be crucial as they aim for domestic glory in Vadodara.
Karnataka Squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy Knockouts: Mayank Agarwal (Captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Nikin Jose, K.V. Aneesh, R. Smaran, K.L. Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal (Vice-Captain), Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, V. Koushik, Vidyadhar Patil, Abhilash Shetty, Pravin Dubey, Luvnith Sisodia, Yashovardhan Parantap.
As Karnataka enters the knockout stages, the team will be hopeful that their remaining squad members can step up and deliver strong performances, compensating for the absence of some of their star players. The upcoming quarterfinal clash will be a crucial test for the team’s resilience and depth, as they look to continue their pursuit of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
