As the pinnacle of domestic cricket competition, Ranji Trophy serves as the ultimate proving ground for aspiring cricketers in India. Far beyond being a mere series of matches, it is a testament to the nation’s deep reservoir of talent.
With the league stage of the 2023-24 season wrapping up after seven rounds of matches in the Elite group, Mumbai, Andhra, Madhya Pradesh, Baroda, Saurashtra, Vidarbha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have earned their spots in the quarterfinals from the Elite group. Tamil Nadu made the cut after seven years.
Among the notable teams that missed out on a quarterfinal berth was Bengal. Runners-up twice and semi-finalists once in the last three seasons, they didn’t quite get it right this time. Weather prevented them from bagging full points in two matches where they were in a good position. They also performed poorly against Mumbai and Kerala.
Manipur and Goa were relegated to Plate for the upcoming season. Taking their places among the Elite next season will be Hyderabad and Mizoram.
Dube shines, with Pujara & Indrajith
Mumbai showcased their superiority as the standout team, amassing 37 points. Despite missing a clutch of first-choice players, they found their men for the moments. Shivam Dube was a standout performer, delivering when the chips were down. Not among the chart-toppers, Dube made runs when his team needed him.
Cheteshwar Pujara showed he has not lost the appetite for runs. The Saurashtra veteran is third on the list of batters with 781 runs in 11 innings at 78.1. He made three centuries. Tamil Nadu’s Baba Indrajith served yet another notice of his consistency by making two timely hundreds.
Two keepers to the fore
For any player harbouring dreams of donning the national jersey, excelling in Ranji Trophy is not just important, it’s imperative.
Among others who shone with the bat were Ricky Bhui of Andhra and Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan. Their names are important because both are wicketkeepers. With the Indian team trying out new faces in that position, runs made by them might draw the attention of selectors.
Bhui was the top-scorer in the Elite group with a staggering 861 runs in 11 innings at 86.10. His tally included four centuries. Jagadeesan amassed 775 in 10 innings at 96.87. His 321 against Chandigarh was the only triple century in the Elite group. He also made an unbeaten 245 against Railways.
Left-arm spinners get it right
There were no new names that stood out among the fast bowlers and medium-pacers. Three left-arm spinners made their mark.
Making his debut this season, Maharashtra’s Hitesh Walunj accounted for 41 wickets in seven matches. Saurashtra’s old warhorse Dharmendrasinh Jadeja was at it again, bagging 39 wickets. Tamil Nadu’s R Sai Kishore did his cause no harm by claiming 38 wickets from seven outings.
The door to the national team in any format is unlikely to open immediately as far as left-arm spinners are concerned because of the presence of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel and Saurabh Kumar in the India A side. But these three have done enough to stay in the reckoning.
When it comes to the best bowling figures, Jalaj Saxena of Kerala claimed 9/68 in 21.1 overs against Bengal.
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Three domestic stalwarts retire
At least three domestic stalwarts said goodbye to the game. Bengal’s Manoj Tiwary, Saurabh Tiwari of Jharkhand and Vidarbha’s Faiz Fazal were prolific scorers in Ranji Trophy for many years. All three decided that they have had enough.
While Manoj and Saurabh made a few appearances for India in limited-over games, Fazal didn’t get that opportunity. But the opener had led Vidarbha to the Ranji Trophy titles a couple of times. Their teams and domestic cricket will remember their contributions.
As the competition progresses into the quarter-finals, players and teams are gearing up to deliver their best in pursuit of the prestigious title. Beyond the glory of lifting the trophy, this is also an opportunity to catch the eye of selectors and inch closer to representing the national team.
PS: Agni Chopra was the talk of the Plate Division, setting the stage ablaze with an astounding total of 939 runs, including four consecutive centuries. The son of film director Vidhu Vinod Chopra is representing Mizoram.
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