Maharashtra vs Kerala Prediction – Ranji Trophy 2025/26 | Head to Head, Lineups, Stats & Betting Tips

The Maharashtra vs Kerala prediction for the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 features two competitive sides aiming to assert dominance in Elite Group B.
Maharashtra, with experienced campaigners like Ankit Bawne and Ruturaj Gaikwad, boast a strong batting lineup complemented by a balanced bowling attack.
Kerala, led by Sijomon Joseph, relies on versatile all-rounders and disciplined spinners to challenge stronger teams in the group.

This 4-day encounter at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Ground, Pune, is expected to favor Maharashtra slightly due to home advantage, but Kerala’s fighting spirit and key players make it a closely contested match.

Match Details

Match	Maharashtra vs Kerala, Ranji Trophy 2025/26
Date	October 20 – October 23, 2025
Venue	Maharashtra Cricket Association Ground, Pune
Format	First-Class (4 Days)
Competition	Ranji Trophy 2025/26 – Elite Group B
Toss Prediction	Team winning toss likely to bat first
Pitch Report	Seam-friendly early, flattens out; spinners key Day 3–4
Weather	Clear skies, perfect for uninterrupted four-day cricket

Maharashtra Team Preview

Maharashtra’s batting depth is their major strength, with Ankit Bawne anchoring the innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad providing flair at the top.
Their bowling attack, featuring Kiran Navgire and Milind Kumar, can exploit early morning conditions.
All-rounders like Aditya Tare offer flexibility in both batting and bowling, making Maharashtra a balanced side.

Key Players for Maharashtra

• Ankit Bawne – Veteran top-order batter, dependable anchor.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad – Aggressive opener, can set the tone.
• Aditya Tare – Wicketkeeper-batter, adds depth to batting.
• Kiran Navgire – Strike bowler, effective in early conditions.

Kerala Team Preview

Kerala depends on experienced batsmen like Sijomon Joseph and Sanju Samson, backed by versatile bowlers such as Sandeep Warrier.
Spinners Sreekumar Nair and Biju Ramesh play a crucial role in middle overs, especially on turning tracks.
Kerala’s lower-order contributions can be decisive if the top order fails against a strong Maharashtra bowling attack.

Key Players for Kerala

• Sijomon Joseph (c) – Captain and key all-rounder.
• Sanju Samson – Middle-order anchor and aggressive batter.
• Sandeep Warrier – Medium-fast bowler, crucial for early breakthroughs.
• Sreekumar Nair – Spinner, important for controlling middle overs.

Head-to-Head Record

Teams	Matches Played	Maharashtra Wins	Kerala Wins	Draws
Maharashtra vs Kerala	5	3	1	1

Maharashtra have the upper hand historically, particularly at home grounds, but Kerala has shown resilience in past contests.

Predicted Playing XIs

Maharashtra

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Ankit Bawne
3. Aditya Tare (wk)
4. Milind Kumar
5. Sarfaraz Khan
6. Hrithik Shokeen
7. Anmol Malhotra
8. Musheer Khan
9. Akshay Wakhare
10. Rahul Tripathi
11. Prashant Solanki

Kerala

1. Sanju Samson
2. Sijomon Joseph (c)
3. Vishnu Vinod
4. Rohan Prem
5. Sachin Baby
6. Sandeep Warrier
7. Sreekumar Nair
8. Biju Ramesh
9. P Rasheed
10. Ashwin Hebbar
11. Prasanth R

Match Prediction

Maharashtra’s experienced batting lineup and home advantage make them favorites.
Kerala’s chances depend on their top-order batters delivering consistent performances and spinners exploiting any turn later in the match.

Predicted Winner: Maharashtra (likely to win by 5–6 wickets or first-innings lead)

Betting Tips & Match Odds

• Match Winner Prediction: Maharashtra
• Top Batter (Maharashtra): Ankit Bawne
• Top Batter (Kerala): Sanju Samson
• Top Bowler (Maharashtra): Kiran Navgire
• Top Bowler (Kerala): Sandeep Warrier
• First-Innings Total Range: 280–330 runs
• Toss Tip: Bat first to take advantage of early seam movement

Conclusion

The Maharashtra vs Kerala Ranji Trophy 2025/26 encounter is expected to be competitive, with Maharashtra holding a slight edge due to experience and home advantage.
Kerala’s key players must perform to keep the contest tight in this four-day first-class battle.