New Delhi: After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and head coach Gautam Gambhir made it clear that domestic cricket will have to be prioritised by those having red-ball aspirations, several Indian top stars have already made themselves available for the respective state teams for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. BCCI tightened the snooze on Indian stars after the team’s abysmal show on the recently concluded tour of Australia.
The board had taken strict measures last year, asking all contracted players to play domestic cricket when not on national duty. BCCI further reiterated their stance in the recently held review meeting where the team’s performance in the Australia Test series was scrutinised. The Ranji Trophy will be a chance for the underperforming India stars to regain their touch ahead of the new Test season.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma joined Mumbai’s practice session at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of their match against Jammu and Kashmir at BKC in the Ranji Trophy. However, it remains to be seen if Rohit will play in Mumbai’s Ranji clash against J&K. Yashasvi Jaiswal is also available for Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy match.
Meanwhile, the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill have also made themselves available for Delhi and Punjab, respectively for the ongoing Ranji season. All three of Pant, Gill and Jaiswal enjoyed a remarkable rise in the domestic circuit before becoming India regulars and will be looking to sharpen their game by playing the Ranji Trophy ahead of the new Test season. Here is a look at their record in the Ranji Trophy so far.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai in the 2006-07 season and took little time to cement his place in the team. Rohit smashed 531 runs at an average of 48.07 with a century in his maiden season and there was no looking back. His performances did dip in the 2007-08 season where he managed only 191 runs in 5 matches.
However, Rohit’s talent earned him his India debut in 2007 and he was part of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup title under MS Dhoni. In the 2008-09 season, Rohit enjoyed his most prolific Ranji season with 747 runs in 7 matches averaging over 74 with 3 centuries. He hammered 527 runs in the 2009-10 season and followed it up with 732 runs in the 2010-11 season.
Rohit played only 3 matches in the 2011-12 season but ended up amassing 339 runs at a stunning average of 113 with two centuries. The Hitman scored 712 runs in the 2012-13 season. His last appearance for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy came in 2015 where he notched up a 113-run knock. Rohit has 3,892 runs to his name in 42 matches at an average of 72.07 with 14 hundreds in the Ranji Trophy.
Rishabh Pant
One of India’s best performers in Test cricket over the last few years, Rishabh Pant rose through the ranks in domestic cricket before earning his India debut. Pant, who is known for his attacking batting, made his Ranji Trophy debut for Delhi at the age of 18 in 2015. He hammered 972 runs at an average of 81 and finished as one of the leading run-getters in the 2016-17 season.
His domestic exploits coupled with his heroics for Delhi Capitals in the IPL saw him earn his maiden India call-up in 2017. Pant has played only 15 matches for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy as he was fast-tracked into the Indian team owing to his exceptional skills and talent. In 15 matches, he has scored 1287 runs at an average of 61.29 with 4 centuries and 3 fifties.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill enjoyed a breakout year in 2018 after starring for the India U-19 in their World Cup-winning campaign. He went on to establish himself in the IPL and also shone for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy. Gill scored 245 runs for Punjab in his maiden Ranji season in 2017-18 and followed it up with 728 runs in just nine innings in the 2018-19 season.
He slammed a brilliant 268-run knock against Tamil Nadu which remains his highest score in first-class cricket. Gill’s last appearance in the Ranji Trophy came in June 2022 when he played in the quarter-final between Punjab and Madhya Pradesh in Bengaluru. Gill has amassed 1176 runs in just 12 matches at an average of over 76, including 4 centuries and 5 fifties.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal was arguably India’s best batter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia where he finished as the leading run-getter for the visitors with 391 runs in 5 Tests at an average of over 43. The 23-year-old made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai at the age of 17 during the 2018-19 season and later earned his place in India’s U-19 squad for the U-19 World Cup in 2020 where he shone with over 400 runs.
In his first full Ranji season in 2021-22, Jaiswal smashed three consecutive centuries to power Mumbai into the final. His performances were enough to convince the selectors to fast-track the young opener into the Indian team and he has since repaid the faith with his consistent performances for India in Tests. He has so far played only 9 matches in the Ranji Trophy with 833 runs, including 4 centuries and two fifties averaging close to 60.
While Rohit Sharma joined Mumbai’s practice session on Tuesday, the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have all made themselves available state teams for the Ranji Trophy. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
