The Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic tournament, is considered to be a breeding ground for the country’s future cricketing stars. Over the years, many players who graduated to the national team from the Ranji circuit managed to hold their own and established their identity in international cricket.
However, as is the case with other domestic first-class tournaments across the world, performing well in the Ranji Trophy does not guarantee a Team India call-up. The history of Indian cricket is full of instances wherein some of the finest performers in the tournament spent their entire careers waiting for a chance to play at the top level.
India’s current domestic structure also has a few players who have been doing well on a regular basis in the Ranji Trophy but are highly unlikely to get selected in the national team.
Here are 5 consistent Ranji performers who may never play for India:
#1 Mithun Manhas
Age: 36 years
Batting Average: 47.02
Having represented his home state of Delhi for the most part of his domestic career, Mithun Manhas moved to the Jammu & Kashmir side for the 2015/16 season. Manhas has been one of the most prolific batsmen in the Ranji Trophy and currently occupies the 3rd spot in terms of all-time leading run-getters in the tournament with 8,480 runs.
The right-handed batsman has played 153 first-class matches so far, scoring more than 9000 runs at an average in the high 40s and 27 centuries to his name. In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, Mithun Manhas had a tally of 569 runs in just 9 innings at a terrific average of 81.28.
The Jammu-born cricketer was unfortunate to have emerged at a time when the Indian team boasted of their strongest batting line-up ever. And at the age of 36, it is nearly impossible for Manhas to live his dream to play for the national side.
#2 Dheeraj Jadhav
Age: 37
Batting Average: 50.85
Over the past decade or so, Dheeraj Jadhav has been one of the top batting stars in the Indian domestic circuit. The southpaw has more than 6,000 runs to his credit in the Ranji Trophy and has played for 3 different teams in the tournament – Maharashtra, Assam and Goa.
Jadhav’s first-class statistics are highly impressive as he has scored 7,479 runs in 111 matches so far at a 50-plus average including 23 centuries and 31 fifties. Although he did make it through to the Indian squad back in the 2004/05 season, the left-hander never got a spot in the playing XI.
Dheeraj Jadhav briefly put his domestic career in jeopardy by signing up for the ICL but found his way back after cancelling his contract in 2009. However, at 37, it may be too late for Jadhav to get another call-up to the national team.
3) Sumit Narwal
Age: 34
Bowling Average: 23.19
Sumit Narwal is an all-rounder who plays for the Delhi side in the Ranji Trophy. While Narwal is quite handy with the bat lower down the order as his first-class batting average of 27.56 may suggest, his primary role in the team is that of a medium-pace bowler.
The 34-year old cricketer was born in Karnal, Haryana and played for his home state during the first few years of his domestic career before switching to Delhi in the 2007/08 season. Narwal has been highly consistent with the ball throughout and has claimed 186 wickets in 53 first-class games at an average of just over 23.
Despite being such an asset for his Ranji team, Sumit Narwal has been unable to move the selectors enough to warrant a place in the Indian team. It is a rare instance in the country’s cricket to see a pacer in his 30s getting an international debut and therefore, the Delhi bowler is unlikely to get a chance.
#4 Vikramjeet Malik
Age: 33
Bowling Average: 23.42
Himachal Pradesh medium pacer Vikramjeet Malik has been the mainstay of his team’s bowling attack for more than a decade. Among bowlers who are presently playing domestic cricket, Malik is one of the highest Ranji wicket-takers with 292 scalps in the prestigious tournament.
The Vishakapatnam-born cricketer’s bowling statistics in first-class cricket are quite incredible as he has claimed 308 wickets in 81 games at an average of 23.42 and a great strike rate of slightly under 52. While Malik did not play a single first-class match last season, he took 23 wickets in 8 matches during the 2014/15 season.
Considering the selectors’ inclination towards handing out opportunities to younger fast bowlers, Vikramjeet Malik may not have much hope in terms of earning a Team India call-up.
#5 Yashpal Singh
Age: 34
Batting Average: 51.27
A right-handed batsman by trade, Yashpal Singh has been the best batsman for the Services team in domestic cricket. His Ranji Trophy performance over the years has been quite brilliant as he currently has a tally of 6,461 runs in the tournament.
In his overall first-class career, Yashpal has scored more than 7,500 runs at a great average of 51.27 with 18 centuries and a top score of 250 not out. The Delhi-born batsman was in a rich vein of form during the 2015/16 Ranji season with 555 runs in 11 innings and a batting average of over 60.
Yashpal Singh has been really unfortunate to miss out on a chance to play for the national team despite his exceptional showing with the bat in domestic cricket. Taking into account that he is 34 at present, the Services batsman’s hopes of an international career are fading away with every passing day.
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