Karun Nair’s unbeaten 155 was the better innings, though Madhav Kaushik’s 150 was the more productive one. Nair arrived with Karnataka wobbling at 43 for 3 against a strong Andhra attack and saved Karnataka from defeat, while Kaushik built a platform that carried Uttar Pradesh to an innings win over Bihar. Neither batter is in India’s Test squad for New Zealand. The comparison turns on context: the quality of the bowling, the match situation and the reward each hundred brought on the points table.
Patient Hundred at Rajgir
Bihar chose to bowl at Rajgir and reduced Uttar Pradesh to 85 for 3 on a red-soil pitch that swung. Opener Madhav Kaushik then joined Rinku Singh, who made 112, in a 207-run stand for the fourth wicket. At the close of day one, Kaushik was unbeaten on 124 from 252 balls, which works out at 49.2 runs per 100 balls and included three sixes and five fours.
Uttar Pradesh ended the first day at 287 for 3 and went on to 540, then completed an innings victory by 267 runs. Kaushik’s final ball count never reached the records, so the comparison table leaves those cells as n/a. He was named Player of the Match for a hundred built on patience rather than power.
Karnataka Rescue Act After a Collapse
Andhra made 418, and Karnataka answered with 274, handing Andhra a 144-run advantage on first innings. When Nair reached the crease in the second innings, the score was 43 for 3, and he stayed unbeaten on 155 from 242 balls, hitting 16 fours and two sixes. His strike rate of 64.05 sat well above Kaushik’s day-one rate, which suited a side trying to save a match rather than win one.
Not one other Karnataka batter passed 50. They declared on 337 for 9, which set Andhra 194 to win, and Andhra were 104 for 4 when play ended. A draw was the only outcome left, yet Nair’s innings kept a heavy deficit from turning into a defeat.
Ranji Trophy 2026 Madhav Kaushik Karun Nair
Career numbers give Nair the edge in track record. In 2024-25 he piled up 863 runs for Vidarbha at an average of 53.93, and in 2025-26 he added 699 for Karnataka at 58.25. Kaushik has produced 489 runs at about 70 in one campaign and 351 at 50.41 in a later one. This was Nair’s 27th first-class century and only the fifth of Kaushik’s career.
The attacks also differed. Nair faced Andhra’s Saurabh Kumar, who ended with 3 for 85, and Lalith Mohan, whose 5 for 117 stood out, whereas the Bihar attack, led by Amod Yadav’s 4 for 91, asked fewer questions of Kaushik. Taken together, Nair’s innings was the better one because it came from a tougher start, against stronger bowlers, and rescued a match. Kaushik yielded more, since it set up a win.
Batter | Team | Runs | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | Match Result | Team Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Madhav Kaushik | Uttar Pradesh | 150 | n/a | n/a | Won by innings and 267 runs | 540 |
Karun Nair | Karnataka | 155* | 242 | 64.05 | Draw | 337/9 declared |
Points Each Innings Earned
Kaushik’s hundred was worth seven points to Uttar Pradesh, bonus point included, while Bihar went home with none. Uttar Pradesh missed the knockouts after gathering 17 points last season, fifth place in their group, so this innings alone provided roughly 41 percent of the season’s total.
Karnataka collected only one point from Nair’s hundred, since Andhra’s lead earned them three. That is a thin reward for the harder task, though avoiding defeat after trailing by 144 still counts for something.
Selectors and the New Zealand Tests
Just two days on from Nair’s hundred, India’s selectors picked a 16-man party for the New Zealand Tests, announced on 16 October, and he is not in it. Kaushik misses out as well. Nair owns 579 runs at 41.35 from 10 Tests, among them an unbeaten 303. A modest 205 runs from four Tests in England cost him his spot for the West Indies series, and he has not played since 31 July 2025.
A recall will need more than one hundred, but this innings keeps his name in the conversation. For Kaushik, the route to national honours is longer. Taken together, the Ranji Trophy 2026 Madhav Kaushik Karun Nair debate shows two hundreds that earned very different rewards.
Which hundred do you rate higher, Kaushik’s patient 150 or Nair’s rescue act? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which batters made hundreds in the opening round of the tournament?
More than 30 batters reached three figures, led by Akshay Wadkar with 198. Rinku Singh scored 112, while Nair finished on 155 not out and Kaushik on 150.
How many runs did Kaushik hit against Bihar?
Kaushik made 150 at Rajgir for Uttar Pradesh. He was 124 not out by stumps on the opening day, and his side went on to reach 540.
Which team does Madhav Kaushik play for?
Kaushik plays for Uttar Pradesh as a right-handed opener. The 28-year-old was born in Delhi and debuted in November 2018 with a score of 92, a start that marked him out early.
How did Uttar Pradesh fare last season in the group stage?
Uttar Pradesh came fifth of eight teams in Group A. They collected 17 points from one win and two losses and missed the knockouts, which is why this opening hundred matters.
Is Karun Nair part of India’s current Test squad?
No, Nair was omitted when the New Zealand touring party was named on 16 October. His most recent Test came on 31 July 2025, although he does own a Test score of 303 not out.