Round 5 of Ranji Trophy seemed to be an opportunity for the domestic game to exclaim loudly, “See me!” As the schedule paused for white ball competitions, teams devoted all they had to these final rounds of first-class cricket. And while there were victories by Mumbai, Karnataka, Vidarbha, and Saurashtra, it was a rout by them in all four contests. On the other hand, while Bengal, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh each earned a draw, fans and selectors alike will likely reflect on performances that may not have made headlines, but still are undeniable.
The most notable player to rise to the fore was Rinku Singh. With his omission from the Asia Cup and Australian tour squads, Singh responded by scoring a second straight 100 with a 176 off 247 deliveries vs. Andhra. He demonstrated the importance of domestic consistency as Uttar Pradesh was able to build a thin first innings lead of 5 runs, which ultimately led to the match being drawn; however, the impact he made on the scorecard and the minds of the fans is undeniable.
Smaran Ravichandran: Mastering the Art of the Double Ton
Smaran Ravichandran’s batting for Karnataka has evolved into something much bigger than just batting – it’s how he defines the double hundred in a match and how that defines what an unbeaten double hundred in Ranji cricket should look like. His second double hundred of the season (227*) against Chandigarh brings him up to a phenomenal average of 119. He’s also been unbeaten in both innings. When he walked in with 64-3, he helped take a massive 547-8 declaration. Only a handful of players have achieved this in one Ranji season – to be able to do so says a great deal about Smaran’s classic patience as well as his modern-day ability to dominate.
Shreyas Gopal: The Spin-Infused All-Round Surge
Smaran was in charge of the runs, and Shreyas Gopal was in charge of the wickets for Gujarat. Gopal’s 10-wicket haul (7-73 and 3-45) against Chandigarh was his second ten-wicket haul of the season; he had a significant role as well with 62 runs in a 141-run lower-order partnership. In the IPL, wrist spinners often receive their glamour; in Ranji cricket, they are the defining factor of a match. Shreyas Gopal represents that dual threat for the team. He shows that when you have a bowler who can bat, you add an element to your team beyond what your statistics alone show.
Shahbaz Ahmed: Bengal’s All-Round Symphony
Shahbaz Ahmed‘s season has been a study of how to deliver equally strong performances with bat and ball. Following his match-winning performance vs. Railways, Shahbaz then took 101 from 122 deliveries for Assam and scored 4 wickets for 57 runs in the 2nd inning. These types of performances demonstrate the value of the modern-day all-rounder, a batsman who can rapidly accelerate total runs and a bowler who can apply sustained pressure. The cricketing strategy of Bengal likely involves developing several versatile cricketers as opposed to just specialists.
Abhishek Reddy: The Late Bloomer’s Triumph
It can take ten years for some stories to mature. It took Abhishek Reddy twenty years of hard work, and at thirty-one, he made his first-class debut with an innings of 247 runs (off 348 balls) that ultimately ended in a victory for Andhra (who made a total of 567-6 runs, and won by an innings and 81 runs). This was much more than a personal benchmark for Abhishek; it was proof that all of the time and effort he had invested in developing his skills would eventually pay off. The entire match was dominated by the batting prowess of Andhra’s Abhishek Reddy as well as his ability to convert every chance he got into runs. While timing is important in cricket, many other factors determine whether or not someone will have a lasting legacy in the game, such as their level of perseverance and their ability to capitalise on opportunities.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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