After the highs and lows of the South Africa tour, Indian cricketers are shifting gears to the domestic arena, with the Ranji Trophy 2024 taking center stage. This comes at crucial time as India vs England Tests is also fast approaching. Among those making headlines are Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, and the intriguing case of Ishan Kishan.
Shardul Thakur Takes to the Turf: Mumbai’s pace spearhead, Shardul Thakur, is set to bolster their Ranji Trophy 2024 campaign against Kerala on January 19th as per Hindustan Times. Initially unavailable due to BCCI’s travel guidelines for pacers, Thakur’s experience and firepower will be a welcome addition to Mumbai’s attack.
Shreyas Iyer Eyes Redemption: Shreyas Iyer, back from a lukewarm Test series in South Africa, was eager to prove his mettle in the Ranji Trophy too. He scored 48 in the first innings.
With his Test spot potentially under threat in the upcoming England series, Shreyas Iyer needs luck and chances to silence the doubters.
Shivam Dube Rejoins the Fold: All-rounder Shivam Dube, after his T20I commitments to India, is likely to rejoin Mumbai’s Ranji squad after the January 17. His aggressive batting and handy medium pace add another dimension to Mumbai’s lineup.
What about Ishan Kishan?
Ishan Kishan’s Conundrum: While most players seamlessly transition between formats, Ishan Kishan future remains clouded.
His reported lack of dedication towards red-ball cricket has raised eyebrows amongst selectors and management. While Rahul Dravid’s message is clear: domestic performance is the key to Ishan Kishan Test return.
Notably, Ishan Kishan has been dropped from first two India vs England Tests. And now it’s upto young WK-batter that how he will prove his mettle in domestic competition to earn his place back in India Test playing XI.
Mohammed Shami – Ranji Conundrum?
The question on everyone’s mind: will veteran pacer Mohammed Shami be asked to prove his fitness in the Ranji Trophy before joining the England series? While consistency is expected from returning players, the applicability of said rule, as Rahul Dravid applied in case of Ishan Kishan, across the board remains a debatable topic.
As the Ranji Trophy unfolds, these storylines promise to keep fans engaged. Thakur’s return, Iyer’s quest for redemption, Dube’s resurgence, and Ishan Kishan uncertain future add intrigue to the domestic scene. Stay tuned for more updates on India’s next generation of cricket stars!
Editors pick
