Over the last few years, the Ranji Trophy, India’s domestic competition, is slowly changing the perception people have towards it. Thanks to the influx of money in the BCCI, arguably, the world’s richest cricket board, teams have better facilities, better grounds and better incentives.
The star players also know that they are just two steps away from international cricket. The increase in the number of India A tours means the star performers at the Ranji Trophy have a lot to look forward to even after the season. Rahul Dravid has already shown his value as coach and guide, mentoring the next crop of players and that could be incredible for these players too.
Some good performances at the India A level could mean you may be in the squad, like Karun Nair found out. No performance is wasted and every match matters for players now, who can hope for a lot more encouragement, especially with consistent broadcasting and more exposure and coverage.
Here, we take a look at this year’s top Ranji performers.
#1 Shahbaz Nadeem (Jharkhand)
Nadeem has been knocking on the doors of the Indian team for a really long time. The ultra-consistent, left-arm orthodox spinner topped the wicket charts with 56 wickets in 19 innings at 25.60 with four five-wicket hauls.
Twice he picked up 10 wickets in a match and is largely responsible for Jharkhand’s powerful showing reaching the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy. Nadeem also reached the 300-wicket milestone at first class level and has already impressed a lot of players, appearing for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.
Also Read: 2016-17 Ranji Trophy in numbers
#2 Priyank Panchal (Gujarat)
Priyank Panchal was head and shoulders over every other batsman this year, barring Rishabh Pant. Panchal, who only averages 43.59 in first class cricket, had a stupendous season where he amassed 1310 runs in 17 innings (only batsman this year to cross 1000 runs) at 87.33.
He scored five centuries, the most by any batsman, to add to his four half-centuries. He even smashed an unbeaten 314*. Along with Gohel, another Gujarat player who scored 914 runs at 60.93, Panchal’s batting was the bedrock on which Gujarat’s successful Ranji campaign was built.
Also Read: Gujarat's Ranji success: How Parthiv Patel inspired a team to realize their dream
#3 Rishabh Pant (Delhi)
Pant in the matter of one season has already overtaken Sanju Samson in the pecking order as far as taking Dhoni’s keeping gloves in the shorter formats is concerned, whenever the great man chooses to hang up his boots. He got his reward with a maiden call-up for the T20I squad that will play three T20Is against England.
Pant’s sensational season that included a triple ton saw him score 972 runs in just 12 innings at 81, the second highest average amongst the top 20 run-getters this season. What is the bigger news is that the 19-year old Delhi southpaw playing his first full Ranji season scored his runs at an unbelievable strike-rate of 107.28.
No other batsman has managed to score at more than 90 amongst the top fifty run-getters. 85.34 was the next highest strike-rate; such was Pant’s dominance with the bat this season.
Also Read: Sportskeeda’s 2016-17 Ranji Trophy team of the tournament
#4 Parvez Rasool (Jammu & Kashmir)
Rasool who has been a little unlucky at the international stage, almost making it to the squad but not getting too many opportunities (he played just the lone ODI against Bangladesh), is a shining light for players from remote parts of the country.
Rasool was an excellent all-rounder for J&K picking up 38 wickets in 15 innings at 23.86 with two five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he made 629 runs in 16 innings at 39.31 with 7 half-centuries, joint most this season. The 27-year old off-break bowler averages 38.87 with the bat and 34.83 with the ball in all first-class matches.
#5 Abhishek Nayar (Mumbai)
Nayar was easily Mumbai’s best player this season. He picked up 25 wickets in 18 innings at 27.68 with his medium-pace bowling. Mumbai’s highest wicket-takers had 27 wickets each and both averaged more than he did. With the bat, the big match player scored 588 Along with Rasool, Nayar was one of the better all-rounders on show during this Ranji Troph y runs in 16 innings at 43.91 with a century and four half-centuries.
Along with Rasool, Nayar was one of the better all-rounders on show during this Ranji Trophy. The 33-year old appeared in 3 ODIs for India, in which he could bat only once and bowl only once against West Indies.
#6 AA Sanklecha (Maharashtra)
Maharashtra’s Anupam Sanklecha is 34-years old and has slogged with his right-arm medium fast bowling on slower sub-continental wickets. Sanklecha, who has played only 48 first-class matches despite debuting way back in 2004 picked up 43 wickets in just 13 innings at a sensational average of 16.18 with 5 five-wicket hauls.
He has the lowest average at the Ranji this year amongst the top 10 wicket-takers, registering best figures of 8/73 in an innings.
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