MUMBAI, Jan 22: A unique gathering of cricketing stars is set to unfold as the Ranji Trophy resumes on Thursday. Esteemed players like Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant have committed to represent their respective teams, largely influenced by the BCCI’s firm reminder of the importance of domestic cricket.
Rohit returns to defend champions Mumbai after almost a decade as the second phase of the country’s foremost red-ball tournament kicks off across various venues.
This season marks the first instance where the two premier white-ball tournaments — the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy — have split the Ranji Trophy into two segments, with each state team playing five matches in the first leg.
As each side gears up for two additional matches in the second round, significant stakes await not just the teams involved, but also for national players, who have been reminded to pay heed to domestic performances after disappointing series against New Zealand at home and Australia away.
Although batting icon Virat Kohli is expected to take a few more days to recover from a neck strain before joining his Delhi teammates for the final round of group stage matches commencing January 30, Rohit is poised to don the Mumbai colors under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy.
It’s likely that Mumbai will open their innings with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal, mirroring their Indian setup, as they face a strong Jammu and Kashmir team currently in second place in Elite Group A.
Baroda sits at the top, having defeated Mumbai in the season opener, but the Rahane-led side is anticipated to revive their form and strive for an unprecedented 43rd title.
This game with Mumbai is expected to serve as a crucial opportunity for Rohit, who has struggled for form in recent months.
His performance will be critical as it may influence India’s prospects in the upcoming Champions Trophy, potentially his last chance at clinching another major title.
Pant vs Jadeja in Rajkot — In Rajkot, Delhi will take on two-time champions Saurashtra, featuring the dynamic Rishabh Pant who will clash with his Indian teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara. This matchup is essential for both teams in Group D.
Currently, Delhi and Saurashtra rank fourth and fifth respectively, with each having secured only one win in the last Elite Group, leaving them much to accomplish against the leaders Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh.
Only the top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to the quarterfinals.
Gill adds punch to Punjab vs Karnataka — Punjab has managed only one victory out of five matches, placing them fifth in Group C. However, spotlight will be on India’s new ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill, who has faced his own troubles with the bat.
Punjab is set to challenge Karnataka, who come off a title-winning stint in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Gill’s return somewhat compensates for the absence of Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, who are engaged in national duty for T20Is against England.
Karnataka will be strengthened by the return of Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom contributed at various stages during India’s Australian tour.
In another important fixture, Bengal will be without pacer Akash Deep and Abhimanyu Easwaran in Kalyani due to injuries sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they contend against Haryana in Group C.
Mohammed Shami, having confirmed his fitness during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is now with the Indian team for the T20Is against England. This means Bengal must leverage their available players to improve from their current third position.
Last year’s Ranji Trophy runners-up Vidarbha, who recently lost the Vijay Hazare Trophy final to Karnataka, will be optimistic as they face Rajasthan, who are currently in fourth place, in Jaipur in Group B.
Karun Nair aims to maintain his exceptional form from the 50-overs format into the four-day games while continuing to aspire for a return to the Indian team. (Agencies)
