Krishnappa Gowtham's Ranji heroics (Source: @gowthamyadav/instagram.com)
In India, thousands of youngsters grab a bat or ball dreaming of playing for the nation, yet only a few make it. Does that mean the rest lack talent? The answer is that the game fulfills their dream differently.
As some of the stars garnered global attention, some dazzled in the domestic arena. Turning dusty pitches into stages of magic, Karnataka’s Krishnappa Gowtham emerged as a true game-changer. Over the years, he showcased his excellence on the domestic stage.
The all-rounder bowed out of the game, and the Ranji Trophy remained a treasure chest of his finest memories. Among those countless heroics, his all-round masterclass in the clash against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 is worth remembering.
A fine fifty highlights his batting brilliance
Over the years, Karnataka cricket gifted cricketing icons, from batters like Rahul Dravid to bowlers like Anil Kumble. Yet few have shone as brightly as Krishnappa Gowtham. The tall all-rounder from this cricketing powerhouse state, famed for his lethal off-spin and explosive batting, has carved a legacy all his own.
Though celebrated as a T20 specialist, Krishnappa Gowtham proved his class in the historic Ranji Trophy. In the 2019-20 season, Karnataka enjoyed massive success in the longest format, and Gowtham was a hidden reason behind it. During the clash against Tamil Nadu, he stunned the world with his heroics.
Batting first, Karnataka faced an early blow as Nischal Dega walked away, scoring only four runs. After that, Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Pavan Deshpande’s crucial knocks pushed Karnataka towards a safe position. Making the position strong, Krishnappa Gowtham arrived to bat.
Joining David Mathias, they stitched a crucial 60-run partnership, and Gowtham proved to be heavy on the opponent bowlers. Even after the quick dismissals of Mathias and Ronit More, he refused to slow down, racing to a blazing half-century. His explosive 51 off just 39 balls powered Karnataka to a commanding total of 336.
Gowtham strikes back with the ball as rivals face the heat
The opponent batters already faced Gowtham’s furry as the batter, he was yet to show his off-spin magic. Tamil Nadu raced off to a flying start with an 81-run opening stand, before Gowtham flipped the script, striking twice in quick succession to dismiss Vijay and Mukund in 32 and 47 runs.
Those consecutive wickets shook the opponent’s batting lineup, and Gowtham sent captain Vijay Shankar back in 12 runs. The spinner’s fury put the Tamil Nadu batter into trouble as they witnessed a nightmare in the bowler. Continuing his unstoppable form, he removed N Jagadeesan on a crucial point.
The bowler named the day after him as he registered a thrilling fifer after sending back R Sai Kishore in just three runs. The cricket world was already tipping its hat to his heroics, but the bowler had more to amaze fans. Even as Tamil Nadu struggled, Dinesh Karthik fought back with a brave hundred, leaving Karnataka desperate to halt his lone act of resistance.
Coming to bowl in the 110th over, Gowtham sealed the deal. On just the third ball, he sent Dinesh Karthik back for a brilliant 113 off 235, completing a sensational spell of 6 for 110 and leaving fans in awe.
The best is yet to come as his fire ignites the second innings
After the all-round show in the first innings, the Karnataka bowler came back in the second innings where he left in the first innings. Chasing 180, Tamil Nadu crumbled as he struck in the 10th over, dismissing Baba Aparajith for a two-ball duck and witnessing Murali Vijay fall to a bizarre run-out in the same over. In the same over, Murali Vijay fell for a bizarre run out. Those early blows deepened their woes.
As the opponent looked for some revival, Gowtham Ravichandran Ashwin came to the fore at a crucial time. Abhinav Mukund and Dinesh Karthik tried to steady the innings, but Gowtham struck again, dismissing Mukund for 42, denying him a well-earned half-century. Adding to this, he made another big blow, quickly sending Vijay Shankar back for just 5.
Adding another feather to his hat, he secured another fifer in the game after removing Dinesh Karthik. The cricketing world paused to applaud his brilliance, but he soon proved that his heroics truly know no limits.
As Tamil Nadu was already 94/6, he shone with his absolute best. Coming back in the attach, he removed Sai Kishore. After the dismissal, Manimaran Siddharth stitched a 36-run partnership with Murugan Ashwin, but the off-spinner removed Siddharth in 20 runs.
They were just a few runs runs away when Krishnamoorthy Vignesh joined Ashwin, aiming at a turnaround, but the bowler again proved why he is the best in the business. Striking Vignesh for just four runs, he wrapped up Tamil Nadu’s innings at 154, sealing a thrilling 26-run win for Karnataka.
On that day, the cricketing world witnessed a fiery bowler whose skills and talent spoke louder than anything on any stage. In his glorious career, he lived in some historic moment but that match defined the true aura of ‘The all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham.’
