Kerala Cricket Team vs Gujarat Cricket Team timeline: Cricket in India has always been dominated by traditional powerhouses like Mumbai, Karnataka, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu. But over the last decade, two teams from opposite corners of the country – the Kerala Cricket Team from the south and the Gujarat Cricket Team from the west – have quietly built a rivalry filled with determination, skill, and unforgettable drama.
The timeline of matches between Kerala and Gujarat is not just about statistics. It is about ambition. It is about underdogs rising. And it is about the passion of domestic cricket fans who follow every session, every wicket, and every run with intense emotion.
🕰 Early Encounters – The Foundations of a Rivalry
Kerala and Gujarat have faced each other many times in India’s premier domestic tournaments, especially the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the early years, Gujarat often entered these contests as favorites. With a strong cricketing structure and experienced players, they regularly produced competitive sides capable of winning major titles.
Kerala, on the other hand, spent many seasons searching for identity. Their cricketing journey was slower, more patient. Wins were rare and big moments even rarer. Whenever Kerala met Gujarat, the contest usually tilted toward the western side.
Yet, these matches planted the seeds of mutual respect. Gujarat recognized Kerala’s fighting spirit, while Kerala admired Gujarat’s consistency. Slowly, the gap began to close.
2018–2024: The Changing Balance
Between 2018 and 2024, the dynamic between the two teams started evolving. Kerala developed a new generation of cricketers – confident top-order batters, reliable spinners, and disciplined seam bowlers. They were no longer easy opponents.
Gujarat continued to remain solid. Led by seasoned campaigners, they brought professionalism and tactical sharpness to every game. But Kerala began producing performances that made headlines.
Matches during this period were closely fought:
- Hard-fought draws in Ranji Trophy group stages
- Low-scoring one-day thrillers
- Individual brilliance from players on both sides
This phase of the timeline showed that Kerala vs Gujarat was becoming one of the most balanced fixtures in Indian domestic cricket.
The Big Stage Moment – Ranji Trophy 2025
The greatest chapter in the Kerala Cricket Team vs Gujarat Cricket Team timeline arrived during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. Kerala reached the semifinal for the first time in their history. Their opponent: Gujarat – a team with rich domestic pedigree.
Match Setting
The semifinal was played in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium. A massive arena, bright lights, and thousands of fans created the perfect backdrop. For Gujarat, it was another opportunity to reach the final. For Kerala, it was the biggest match their supporters had ever witnessed.
Kerala won the toss and chose to bat first.
The Story of the Match – A Tale for the Ages
Kerala 1st Innings – 457 All Out
Kerala produced a batting performance filled with character. Captain Sachin Baby led from the front with a composed knock. Young opener Rohan Kunnummal laid a strong platform at the top. But the hero of Kerala’s innings was wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen, who played one of the finest knocks seen in recent Ranji history.
His innings of 177 not out was built on patience and flair. He countered Gujarat’s bowling attack confidently, mixing elegant drives with timely boundaries. Thanks to contributions from the middle order and lower order, Kerala finished at a huge total of 457 runs.
Kerala fans celebrated across the country, knowing their team had finally delivered on the big stage.
Gujarat 1st Innings – 455 All Out
Gujarat replied with equal courage. Priyank Panchal played a masterful century. Jaymeet Patel and Aarya Desai contributed valuable fifties. Session after session, Gujarat fought to overhaul Kerala’s total.
The contest became nerve-racking as Gujarat approached 450. Kerala bowlers Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate toiled endlessly. Every run was cheered by Gujarat supporters, while Kerala fans prayed for wickets.
On the final morning of the first innings, Gujarat needed just 28 more runs with three wickets left. That is when destiny intervened.
The Defining Moment
Aditya Sarwate bowled a crucial spell that removed Gujarat’s tail. The most dramatic incident came when a shot from the lower order deflected off a close-in fielder’s helmet and was caught in the slips. That freak dismissal turned the entire match on its head.
Gujarat ended at 455 all out – falling short by just TWO RUNS.
Those two runs became the difference between joy and despair.
Since the match ended in a draw, Kerala qualified for the Ranji Trophy final on the basis of first-innings lead. History had been created.
Scenes of Celebratio
The moment the last Gujarat wicket fell, Kerala players hugged each other in disbelief. Years of struggle, of near-misses, and of hard work finally paid off.
Fans in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur celebrated like festival night. Domestic cricket rarely brings such emotional outbursts, but this match changed that.
The semifinal became a golden entry in Kerala’s cricket timeline.
Pitch Report – Why Batting Dominated
The surface in Ahmedabad was a classic first-class wicket. Early days favored the batters. The ball came nicely onto the bat, allowing stroke-makers to flourish. As the match progressed, slight turn and variable bounce helped spinners.
That is why both sides were able to cross 450 runs. The pitch demanded concentration rather than aggression.
Big Players Who Shaped the Timeline
Kerala Cricket Icons
| Player | Role | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Baby | Captain-Batter | Backbone of Kerala batting |
| Mohammed Azharuddeen | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Match-winning temperament |
| Jalaj Saxena | All-rounder | Experience and reliability |
| Aditya Sarwate | Spinner | Big-match hero |
| MD Nidheesh | Fast Bowler | Crucial seam option |
Gujarat Cricket Pillars
| Player | Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Priyank Panchal | Captain-Batter | Leader and top scorer |
| Arzan Nagwaswalla | Fast Bowler | Key new-ball threat |
| Chintan Gaja | Bowler | Consistent performer |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner | X-factor in attack |
| Jaymeet Patel | Middle Order | Valuable runs |
These cricketers ensured that whenever Kerala meets Gujarat, fans are guaranteed a contest filled with quality.
Head-to-Head Overview (Across Formats)
| Format | Matches | Gujarat Wins | Kerala Wins | Draw/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| List-A | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| T20 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
(Figures represent competitive meetings over recent seasons and highlight the close nature of rivalry.)
Tactical Analysis of the Rivalry
Kerala Strengths
- Compact batting lineup
- Spin-heavy attack suited to later innings
- Strong leadership from Sachin Baby
- Fearless approach in knockout matches
Gujarat Strengths
- Deep cricketing experience
- Quality pace bowlers
- Technically sound top order
- Proven match-winners in white-ball cricket
The timeline shows that contests between these teams often become battles of Kerala grit vs Gujarat structure.
2026 – The Present Scenario
As we move into 2026, both sides remain important forces in Indian cricket:
- Kerala is focused on building on their historic 2025 success
- Gujarat is rebuilding with fresh talent
- Several players from both teams are knocking on India A doors
- Younger cricketers are inspired by the Kerala-Gujarat semifinal story
Upcoming seasons promise more exciting clashes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.
Fans now eagerly await every fixture marked “Kerala vs Gujarat” on the domestic calendar.
Fan Emotion – The Soul of This Timeline
For Kerala supporters, Gujarat was long seen as a hurdle too high. For Gujarat fans, Kerala was once considered easy prey. Today, neither assumption stands true.
Now it is a true rivalry – unpredictable and emotional.
Every season adds a new page:
- A youngster scoring his maiden fifty
- A spinner running through the opposition
- A captain saving the game
- A last-over finish
That is what makes this timeline so beautiful.
Also read: BCCI Mustafizur Rahman IPL 2026: Mohammad Kaif Urges Patience Amid Growing Controversy
conclusion
The Kerala Cricket Team vs Gujarat Cricket Team timeline represents everything great about Indian domestic cricket. It proves that glory is not reserved for big names alone. Sometimes it belongs to teams that simply refuse to give up.
Kerala’s historic qualification in 2025 will always be the crown jewel of this rivalry. Gujarat’s heartbreak will always remind players that every run matters.
As both teams march forward into 2026 and beyond, one thing is certain:
Whenever Kerala meets Gujarat, fans will be treated to cricket that touches the heart.
And that – more than trophies or totals – is the real legacy of this unforgettable cricketing timeline.