Ravikumar Samarth

Born on January 22, 1993, in Mysore, Karnataka, Ravikumar Samarth is an elegant right-handed top-order batter known for his classical technique, patient accumulation, and effortless stroke play. Rising through Karnataka’s state age-group divisions - representing the state across Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-19 competitions - Samarth first generated national buzz in 2013 when he smashed six centuries in eight innings during the Safi Darashah Trophy. He made his first-class debut for Karnataka in December 2013 against Mumbai, quickly developing into a trusted opening anchor for his state team.

Samarth's peak years with Karnataka established him as one of the most consistent openers in Indian domestic cricket. His breakout first-class campaign came during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, where he aggregated over 700 runs, headlined by a career-best marathon knock of 235 against Punjab. He carried that form into the white-ball arena, topping run charts in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 613 runs at an astounding average of 122.60 - including three centuries - to propel Karnataka into the knockout stages. His domestic consistency earned him call-ups to India A, Rest of India, India Green, and India C squads, alongside an IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2022 season.

Seeking a fresh leadership and professional challenge after a decade-long career with Karnataka, Samarth made a high-profile domestic transition to Uttarakhand ahead of the 2024-25 season. He immediately took on senior anchor duties, compiling 649 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy with six half-centuries, alongside a fighting knock of 119 against Vidarbha in October 2024. He maintained his strong 50-over rhythm in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 385 runs at an average of 55 in the 2024-25 edition.

Transitioning to Vidarbha for the 2025-26 season, Samarth delivered a prolific campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing 452 runs at an average of 75.33 across 10 matches. Heading into the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season in October 2026, Samarth brought over 6,400 first-class runs and 3,500 List A runs into Vidarbha’s top-order setup, standing as one of the most experienced and dependable classical openers in Indian domestic cricket.