The second leg of 2025-26 Ranji Trophy has commenced. With quarterfinal qualification on the line, all teams were locked in. A couple of international stars were in action but none of them impressed.
Duck for Shubman Gill
India Test captain, Shubman Gill, was leading Punjab against Saurashtra. In what was a rollercoaster day, 23 wickets fell in Rajkot. Saurashtra batted first and were skittled out for 172, with Harpreet Brar claiming a 6-wicket haul. In reply, Punjab managed to score just 139, with Gill scoring a duck. Ravindra Jadeja took 2 wickets as well. By the end of the day, Saurashtra are 24/3, leading by 57.
Sarfaraz Khan smashes hundred
Sarfaraz Khan scores his first first-class hundred in 15 months against Hyderabad. The Mumbai batter’s last century had come against New Zealand in October 2024. The 28-year-old remains unbeaten on 142 as Mumbai finished the day at 332/4 in 87 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who was leading Hyderabad for the first time, managed to take just 1 wicket, of wicketkeeper Akash Anand.
Jalaj Saxena joins the 500 club
Jalaj Saxena claimed his 33rd five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy against Goa and went past the 500-wicket mark in first-class cricket. Saxena is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Ranji history, going past Narendra Hirwani. Only Sunil Joshi, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, and Rajinder Goel have the most wickets.
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s controversial runout
Abhimanyu Easwaran was run out 19 short of his 28th first-class hundred against Services in Kalyani. Since the game wasn’t streamed, no one knew how Easwaran got out.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the opener was dismissed after he left his crease at the end of the 41st over. In need of water, Easwaran walked to the pavillion to drink some water, assuming the ball was dead. What he didn’t realise was that bowler Aditya Kumar’s fingers had brushed the ball and dislodged the bails.
Services appealed, and Easwaran was given out. After the day’s play, he admitted that it was his mistake and that the opposition was in the right. “The innings was going very well, but the mistake I made surprised even me. Some might feel the opposition could’ve called me back in the spirit of the game, but there was no question of that. It was entirely my fault. I thought the bowler had collected the ball and instinctively moved forward,” Easwaran said.
