Ranji Trophy 2017-2018: 6 teams that can go all the way

Punjab

Yuvraj Singh is set to miss the opening game.

The two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh will not be a part of the squad for the opening encounter against Himachal Pradesh at Dharamsala. The duo are set to miss the match owing to other commitments.

While Yuvraj Singh is scheduled to be at the National Cricket Academy for a fitness test, the off-spinner is expected to join the team for the second or third round of the tournament.

Punjab have also been jolted by the unavailability of their middle-order batsman, Mandeep Singh. The right-hander underwent a back surgery earlier this year and is expected to miss the entire domestic season of 2017-2018.

The team has plenty of new faces with youngsters like Abhishek Sharma coming through the ranks of junior cricket which will add a new dimension to the side.

The pace bowling department looks lethal as Sandeep Sharma and Barinder Sran expected to play a crucial role with the new ball. The addition of Siddharth Kaul after his commitments with the India A squad will also be a massive boost for the northern outfit.

The performance of the team with the bat will rest on the shoulders of the skipper, Jeevanjot Singh and the experienced Gurkkerat Singh Mann.

If Punjab dream of winning the trophy, the duo along with Uday Kaul will need to do the bulk of the scoring.

Squad: Jeevanjot Singh (Captain), Pargat Singh, Shubman Gill, Uday Kaul, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Taruwar Kohli, Mayank Siddana, Abhishek Gupta (wicketkeeper), Siddharth Kaul, Barinder Sran, Sandeep Sharma, Manpreet Singh Grewal, Shubek Gill, Raghu Shivam Sharma and Abhishek Sharma.