Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy Final | TN holds the edge after taking first innings lead against Maharashtra

Tamil Nadu took a significant step towards its maiden Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy title by securing a 71-run first-innings lead and ending day two on 309 for eight in the final against Maharashtra at the NPR College Cricket Ground here on Tuesday.

The contest marks Tamil Nadu’s first-ever final in the competition. Having already won the BCCI men’s u-23 State-A (One-Day) Trophy, it is now eyeing a double this season — a feat Punjab achieved last season.

A 92-run seventh-wicket stand between Kiran Karthikeyan (66 n.o., 176b, 6×4) and left-hander Manav Parakh (47) helped Tamil Nadu overhaul Maharashtra’s 238.

Kiran crafted an adhesive, attritional knock. A fleeting flourish came when he charged Abhishek Nishad and drove the left-arm spinner inside-out through cover for a four. A sublime cover drive off pacer Ajay Borude brought up his fifty.

Kiran Karthikeyan bats for Tamil Nadu against Maharashtra in the CK Nayudu Trophy finals at Natham in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
| Photo Credit:
G. KARTHIKEYAN

Manav relied on steady accumulation through singles (16), doubles (6), and a three, besides delicately late-cutting off-spinner Kiran Chormale for a four.

Earlier, skipper Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (44) and nightwatcher G. Govinth (31) added 55 for the fourth wicket. Left-hander Boopathi drove the scoring, while Govinth held fort at the other end. The southpaw was particularly impressive off the backfoot, notably pulling Chormale for a six to deep midwicket.

Chormale was the pick of the Maharashtra bowlers with three for 60.

The scores: Maharashtra 238 vs. Tamil Nadu 309/8 in 108 overs (S.R. Athish 35, G. Govinth 31, Boopathi Vaishna Kumar 44, Kiran Karthikeyan 66 batting, S. Mohamed Ali 31, Manav Parakh 47, Kiran Chormale 3/60).