Defending champions Karnataka are set to launch their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign on December 24 in Ahmedabad with a reinforced squad, featuring India internationals KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna. Rahul, a high-profile batsman, is making a rare appearance in domestic 50-over cricket, bringing his considerable experience and batting firepower to the side. Krishna adds a potent pace option to the bowling attack, capable of making an impact with the new ball and at the death. The 16-member Karnataka squad will be captained by Mayank Agarwal, with Karun Nair serving as his deputy. While the availability of Rahul and Krishna for the entire tournament is subject to national call-ups for an upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, their participation at the outset is a significant advantage. The team management has also included promising young cricketers, Harshil Dharmani and Dhruv Prabhakar, who have shown great potential. Shreesha Achar provides the spin-bowling expertise. Karnataka faces a challenging Group A schedule, with all its matches scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad against opponents like Jharkhand, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh.
