5 uncapped players who are excelling in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy

The 2016/17 Ranji Trophy is going through an exciting phase at the moment with multiple teams vying for the top spot in all three groups. So far, this season of the primary Indian first-class tournament has seen some terrific individual performances with both bat and ball.

Among the top performers in this year’s Ranji Trophy is a good mix of experienced players as well as young talent. Also, quite a number of them are cricketers who are yet to receive their maiden Team India cap in either of the three formats that are part of the sport.

Here are 5 uncapped players who are excelling in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy:

#5 Siddharth Kaul (Punjab)

Punjab seamer Siddharth Kaul may not have earned a Team India cap so far but he is already a World Cup winner. This is because he was part of the Indian team which lifted the 2008 ICC U-19 World Cup in Malaysia under the leadership of current Test team skipper Virat Kohli.

Kaul has been in splendid form in this season of the Ranji Trophy as he has claimed 20 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 23.75 with 2 five-wicket hauls against his name. The medium pacer's best innings figures of 6 for 57 came in a match against Bengal, which his team lost by 115 runs.

#4 Ankit Bawne (Maharashtra)

Bawne has been in incredible form this season

Maharashtra batsman Ankit Bawne has been a star performer for his state team for quite some time now and has scored quite heavily in his first-class career. This year, too, the right-hander has been in exceptional form, the highlight being his epic unbeaten 594-run stand with team-mate Swapnil Gugale in a match against Delhi.

Bawne has a tally of 497 runs so far in the season at a brilliant average of 82.83 with a double century and 3 half-centuries in his kitty already. His top score of 258 not out, which also happens to be his career best, came during his record-breaking stand alongside Gugale, the highest ever in a first-class match.

#3 Duvvarapu Siva Kumar (Andhra Pradesh)

D Siva Kumar was part of India’s victorious 2008 Under-19 World Cup squad (Image Credit: ESPNCricinfo)

Duvarappu Siva Kumar is a pacer from Andhra Pradesh who is among the top wicket-takers in the Ranji Trophy this season. Siva Kumar has had a fruitful first-class career so far as he has claimed 130 wickets in 40 matches at a staggering average of just under 18 and best innings figures of 7 for 30.

The 26-year old has shown great form in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy with 20 wickets at an average of 14.20 in 4 games thus far. D Siva Kumar’s top match figures of 9 for 96 this year came in his team’s 77-run victory over Group C leaders Haryana at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

#2 Rishabh Pant (Delhi)

Rishabh Pant impressed everyone with his strokeplay in the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup

It may still be early days in Rishabh Pant’s cricketing career, but the 19-year old is already making waves in Indian cricket with his exemplary batting prowess. After virtually setting the stage on fire in the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup and also partially during this year’s IPL, Pant seems to have set his sights on India’s premier first-class tournament.

The teenage Delhi southpaw has plundered 547 runs in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy at a phenomenal average of 109.40 and also at a thunderous strike rate of 102.43. Rishabh Pant recorded a career-best score of 308 against Maharashtra in just his 2^nd match of the season and 4^th overall.

#1 Deepak Hooda (Baroda)

Deepak Hooda played for India in the 2014 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Dubai

Baroda all-rounder and current captain Deepak Hooda first emerged on the scene during the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup as he ended up being India’s top run-getter with 235 runs in 6 matches. While playing for Rajasthan Royals in the 2015 IPL, his ability to dominate the bowling came to the fore as he scored his runs at a strike rate of nearly 160.

However, the current season of the Ranji Trophy has introduced everyone to the run machine inside Hooda as he has scored 557 runs in just 4 innings at a monumental average of 278.50. The swashbuckling Baroda batsman has hit 3 centuries already and his top score of 293 not out came in his team’s previous game against Punjab.