India’s Test batters flop on Ranji Trophy return

Four Test batters fall for single-digit scores on first-class return

By Web Desk
January 23, 2025
India's Rohit Sharma during their training session in Sydney ahead of fifth Test against Australia on January 2, 2025. — AFP

India’s four Test batters, including skipper Rohit Sharma, had a forgetful first-class return as they were all dismissed for single-digit scores in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy on Thursday.

The second round of India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship kicked off on Thursday with renewed interest as several members of India’s Test side returned to their respective regional sides after a disappointing Australia tour.

India’s longer formats captain Sharma, who had only managed to score 31 runs in five innings during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, opened the innings for Mumbai.

The right-handed batter, however, struggled against opening bowler Umar Nazir as he missed two loose deliveries before playing a half-hearted pull shot, which drew curtains on his knock for three.

Left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the other Test batter to be drafted in Mumbai’s squad and was preferred over prolific teenager Ayush Mhatre in the playing XI.

But Jaiswal, who was India’s standout batter during the stiff Australia tour, could only score four runs before being trapped lbw by Auqib Nabi.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, who showed glimpses of brilliance during the BGT, particularly in the Boxing Day and Sydney Test, where he countered Australia’s ruthless bowling unit with an unorthodox approach, however, had a disappointing return to first-class cricket.

Representing Delhi, the left-handed batter walked out to bat at 84-3 in the 24th over against Saurashtra but only lasted 10 balls and scored only one as he was caught on the boundary due to a failed attempt to sweep spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja.

Another India’s top-order batter Shubman Gill, who is captaining Punjab against Kolkata in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, was the fourth Test batter to be dismissed for a single-digit score as he could score a mere four before falling victim to Abhilash Shetty.

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