The 2017/18 edition of the most prestigious tournament in India, Ranji Trophy is about to start on 6th October. This tournament has some top quality players and also gives a chance for youngsters to showcase their talent to the world. Selectors keep a watch on the youngster”s performance and if they keep performing they selected in Under 19, India A squad or senior national team.
Here we look at the 5 young players to watch out for in 2017/18 edition of Ranji Trophy.
- Washington Sundar (Tamil Nadu)
Washington Sundar became the first player to score the fifties and take 10 wickets in the recently concluded pink ball Duleep Trophy finals. He played for India Red and it was his debut match. In the first innings, he scored 88 runs and 42 runs. In the bowling department, he took 5 wickets in both innings which helped India Red to win the title by 163 runs.
The all-rounder made his Ranji Trophy debut last year against Mumbai at Rohtak on 6th October. He played 5 matches for Tamil Nadu. He scored 87 runs in 5 matches ( 7 innings) and took 7 wickets. With the type of performances he put for Tamil Nadu last year, Sundar could play a big role in the upcoming season with both and ball. Sundar impressed with the ball for Pune Supergiants during IPL 10.
Prithvi Shaw became the youngest player to score a century in Duleep Trophy debut. He made 154 in the first innings of pink ball day night Duleep Trophy finals played at Lucknow for India Red. He scored a quickfire 31 in the second innings and was run out. He impressed during his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals on 1 January 2017 and scored 120 runs in the second innings while chasing 251 runs.
Shaw is one of the talented players who is just 17 years old. Last year in Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, he played 2 matches and scored 239 runs including 71, 44 in the finals against Gujarat. He will play a crucial role in this year’s Ranji Trophy tournament and hope to take Mumbai to another Ranji Trophy title.
He is one of the talented bowlers who bowls both right arm and left arm. The promising bowler made his Ranji Trophy in 2016 against Jharkhand at Wayanad. In his debut match, he scored 13 runs and 39 in second innings. He took 2 wickets and did not get a ball during the second innings. His last Ranji Trophy match was against Delhi, he was dismissed for 0 and did not get a bat in 2nd innings. He did not get many chances with the ball in the first innings.
Vidarbha did not qualify for the quarter-finals last year. He could play a key role if he gets selected in this year’s team for Vidarbha.
- Mohammed Siraj (Hyderabad)
Mohammed Siraj another young fast bowler impressed with his bowling during last year’s Ranji Trophy. He played for Hyderabad and took 41 wickets from in 9 matches (17 innings). It was a good out for young Siraj who bowled with control only giving runs at an economy of 2.86 which is great for any bowler on flat batting tracks in India.
He made his Ranji Trophy debut against Services on 15th November 2015. In last year’s tournament, Siraj was the third leading wicket-taker after Shahbaz Nadeem and Anpum Sanckhela. The young fast bowler made a mark in IPL 10 as he was bought for 2.6 Crores by Sunrisers Hyderabad and took 10 wickets in 6 matches.
The fast bowler will play a crucial role for Hyderabad who reached the quarter-finals stage losing to Mumbai. He also played for India A side also this year.
PK Panchal a solid opener performed exceptionally well in last year’s Ranji Trophy for Gujarat. He played a key role for Gujarat scoring 1310 runs in 10 matches ( 17 innings) with the top score of 314* with an average of 87.33.
During his record run last year, Panchal scored 5 centuries and 4 half-centuries. He helped Gujarat to win their maiden title. His ability to play long innings and tire the bowlers shows that Panchal could become a good opener. He was selected for unofficial test matches against South Africa A and scored a century in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy tournament for India Red against India Green.
- Ravi Kumar Samarth (Karnataka)
The right-handed stylish batsman from Karnataka made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2013 against Mumbai. He has a solid technique who can play long innings and tire create pressure on opposition bowlers.
In last year’s edition, Ravi Kumar Samarth scored 702 runs in 9 matches ( 17 innings) with an average of 46.80. His best score was 235* and scored 1 century with 4 half centuries. He was selected in India A squad for a four-day unofficial test match against South Africa A. Karnataka was knocked out in quarterfinals stage by Tamil Nadu. With no Robin Uthappa, the onus lies on Samarth to take the team through.