Debuting with a flourish

Murali Kartik made his debut for Railways in the 1996-97 Ranji Trophy season at the age of twenty. In his first match against Madhya Pradesh at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, Kartik bowled 16 tidy overs costing just 18 runs for the solitary wicket of Rajesh Chauhan. He had figures of 7-4-3-1 in the second innings, amidst a tense finish, as MP closed at 89/8 chasing 107 for victory.

Railways' next encounter was against Vidarbha at the same venue, their home ground in fact, and Kartik was more conspicuously successful on this occasion. In a low scoring game, Railways were bowled out for 163 in their first innings after winning the toss. That was still sufficient to register a first innings lead as Kartik turned in an inspired performance, collecting 6/28 off 16.2 overs, including a hat-trick. Vidarbha were dismissed for 130 to concede a lead of 33.

In their second knock Railways did better but only slightly. They posted 172 on the board, leaving their opponents with a fourth innings target of 206. It proved beyond the ability of Vidarbha's fragile batting line-up. Kartik picked up three more wickets in the second innings to end with match figures of 9/55 as the visitors were bundled out for 95, succumbing by 110 runs.

Not bad for a young man in only his second first class game. Kartik ended the Ranji season with 16 wickets at 19.38 besides showing decided promise with the bat, never more apparent than in a Super League tie against Bengal where he made 74 batting at nine.