Ranji Trophy 2017/18: 5 players to watch out for

The 84th edition of the Ranji Trophy is almost upon us. Defending champions Gujarat will be looking to defend their crown while the traditional powerhouses will be looking to usurp them. With India set to play a home Test series against Sri Lanka following the group stage of the Ranji Trophy, several players will be looking to use the tournament as a stepping stone to the national side.

Several Indian Test stars, including the likes of Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin are set to play in the opening round of the tournament. While most of them won't play for the entire tournament, there are several promising players who will. Some of them will be keen on making an impact in order to make it to the national side.

Here are 5 players to watch out for:

Note: Only players who have never played for India have been included in this list.

Baba Indrajith

Over 2,000 first-class runs at an average of over 45 speak volumes about just what Baba Indrajith is capable of. The 23-year-old is coming into the 84th edition of the Ranji Trophy in great form having just been announced as the vice-captain of the Tamil Nadu Ranji side.

Already this season, he has carried on from where he left off last season, when he was one of Tamil Nadu's star performers, scoring nearly 700 runs at an average of over 60. In the Duleep Trophy that was won by India Red last month, he scored a brilliant double century and recorded a fifty in the final as well. With added responsibility, Indrajith will be looking to make this season count and strengthen his credentials and push his case for a spot in the Indian side.

The 23-year-old batsman has age on his side and the fact that he can bat anywhere in the middle-order is another thing he has going for him.

Vijay Gohil

Vijay Gohil finished with 27 wickets in seven matches for Mumbai in last year's Ranji Trophy

One of the reasons for Mumbai's continued domination in the Ranji Trophy has been their ability to continue to produce quality players. Last season, another star that they unearthed was Vijay Gohil, the slow left-arm spinner.

The 21-year-old finished with 27 wickets in seven matches for Mumbai in last year's Ranji Trophy and was an integral part of their run to the final. He quickly established himself as the side's primary spinner and he will be looking to show that he isn't just another one-season wonder. With Mumbai keen to get over the line this time around, Gohil will be key to their chances as their No.1 spinner.

Still only 21, Gohil has the world at his feet. A strong season might just put his name in the reckoning for a spot in the Indian side in the not too distant future.

Ishank Jaggi

The experienced batsman will be looking to do all that he can to get Jharkhand over the line this time around

One of the major reasons for Jharkhand reaching the semi-final of last year's Ranji Trophy was the form of Ishank Jaggi. His sensational form last year coupled with his impressive performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament helped him get picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Auction 2017.

While he didn't get too many chances to prove his worth, he will be looking to continue his impressive Ranji form this season as well. Last season, the 28-year-old scored nearly 900 runs at an average of almost 60 with four centuries. Another season like that might just push his case for a place in the Indian Test side.

Irrespective of whether the national call-up is in the pipeline or not, the experienced batsman will be looking to do all that he can to get Jharkhand over the line this time around.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

The 22-year-old opener scored nearly 500 runs last season

Until last season, Abhimanyu Easwaran had just 1,018 runs in first-class cricket at an average of over 40 with a solitary century. Not spectacular numbers by any means but the young opening batsman was always highly regarded within the Bengal set-up. And last season, he showed just why he was seen as such a promising player as he formed a solid backbone of the Bengal batting line-up with Sudip Chatterjee and Manoj Tiwary.

The 22-year-old opener scored nearly 500 runs last season and already has a century this season, courtesy of his 127 for India Blue in the Duleep Trophy. Easwaran is another player India could potentially try out, coming out from a seemingly endless production line of openers that already includes KL Rahul, Priyank Panchal aside from the likes of Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan.

Deepak Hooda

Hooda will be looking to become the latest Baroda all-rounder to play for India

Despite his impressive exploits for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, Deepak Hooda is one name that is seldom mentioned when there is talk of finishers, youngsters or players India should try out in the future. It is hard to see why that is the case, especially given the 22-year-old's incredible numbers.

An average in excess of 50 in first-class cricket and average of over 40 with a strike rate of over 90 are great numbers for a middle-order batsman, especially when India are looking for a finisher for the 2019 World Cup and beyond. Hailing from a state that consistently produces quality all-rounders from Irfan Pathan to Hardik Pandya, it is somewhat surprising to see Hooda slip through the net.

Especially considering the fact that nearly 800 runs in last season's Ranji Trophy at an average of over 70 with three centuries and an unbeaten 293 as well. The all-rounder from Baroda might just be able to force his way into the national selectors' thoughts if he has another stellar season this time around.