Karan's unbeaten 162 anchors UP's fightback

Karan Sharma's unbeaten 162 anchored Uttar Pradesh's fightback on the second day of their Ranji Trophy first-class match against Puducherry, taking the visitors to 328 for 9 in 121 overs at stumps. After rain restricted the first day to 37 overs, UP were 67 for 4 at a scoring rate of 1.8 and looked under serious pressure. The second day changed the shape of the contest: UP batted about 84 overs and moved from 128 for 6 to 328 for 9, adding 200 runs while losing only three wickets. Karan contributed 145 of those runs and remained not out on 162. Puducherry had elected to field after winning the toss. Their two main wicket-takers were left-arm orthodox spinners Udeshi, who took 4 for 86, and Ankit Sharma, who took 3 for 73. Seven of the nine UP wickets went to spin, a strong indication that the surface was drying and gripping rather than offering consistent seam movement. Karan's innings was built on patience, careful footwork and steady strike rotation. He respected the good balls, found gaps and did not take unnecessary risks. His long stay also increased the workload on Puducherry's spinners and gave UP's lower order a platform. The visitors still have one wicket in hand, and the remaining two days should reveal whether their first-innings total is enough to dictate terms. For UP, the value of Karan's innings goes beyond the scoreboard: it restored confidence after a poor first day and showed the rest of the batting unit that survival and scoring were possible on this pitch. With the match still open, the main question is how quickly UP finish their innings and how Puducherry respond under pressure.