Top 5 performers from the 5th round of Ranji Trophy 2017-18

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Pujara made it back-to-back centuries in this year's Ranji Trophy
Pujara made it back-to-back centuries in this year's Ranji Trophy

The final round of Ranji matches before the start of the India-Sri Lanka Test series saw several Indian stars feature. Murali Vijay and KL Rahul, who are both expected to open the innings against Sri Lanka, got in some much-needed time at the middle. While Vijay scored a century, Rahul fell just eight short.

Two more openers too, recorded centuries but ultimately in vain. Gautam Gambhir scored 144 for Delhi against Karnataka but his side ended up conceded the first innings lead in a stalemate while Priyank Panchal scored his first century of the season but Gujarat too conceded the lead to Saurashtra.

Such was the wealth of options to choose from in this round that none of those four players make it into the top 5 performers from the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy.

Here are the top 5 performers from the 5th round of Ranji Trophy 2017-18:

Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara just fell short of making it double centuries in back-to-back matches as the Saurashtra batsman fell for 182. Already the record-holder for most first-class double centuries by an Indian batsman, the 29-year-old fell just 18 short of his 13th double ton and claiming joint custody of the record for most f-c double tons by an Asian batsman along with Kumar Sangakkara.

However, Pujara's century helped his side post a massive 570 in their first innings against Gujarat and while the game eventually ended in a draw, Saurashtra took a first-innings lead and strengthened their grip on top spot in Group B. With the first Test against Sri Lanka just a few days away, back-to-back centuries ensured he will go into it on the back of a mountain of runs.

Saurabh Kumar

Saurabh
The 24-year-old impressed with both and ball

Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Saurabh Kumar came into this round of the Ranji Trophy, having played just two games this season with 15 wickets under his belt already. And while he picked up eight more, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings against Assam, it was his century in the first innings that made all the difference.

Coming in at No.8, with his team struggling at 74/6, Kumar added 246 runs for the seventh wicket along with Upendra Yadav as both batsmen scored centuries to help UP score 349 when a score of just over 100 looked more likely. Not content with his contribution with the bat, the 24-year-old ran through the Assam top order and helped UP take a first innings lead.

Although the game eventually ended in a draw, the left-arm spinner also picked up three wickets in the second innings to finish with a century and eight wickets in the game.

Mayank Agarwal

Agarwal has over 500 runs in his last two Ranji matches
Agarwal has over 500 runs in his last two Ranji matches

In just the last two rounds of the Ranji Trophy, Mayank Agarwal has already managed to equal his career tally of hundreds. After scoring his maiden triple century against Maharashtra in the last round, the 26-year-old added 176 against Delhi and helped Karnataka amass a 600+ total in the first innings for the second consecutive game.

24 shy of making it back-to-back 200+ plus scores on a flat wicket, Agarwal was run-out by Stuart Binny, who went on to score a century as Karnataka eventually finished on 649. Courtesy of his back-to-back centuries, Agarwal is now the second-leading run-getter in this year's Ranji Trophy with 534 runs (503 of which have come in his last two matches).

After bowling out Delhi for 301 and taking a first innings lead, Karnataka batted again but Agarwal could only manage 23 in the second innings.

Sanjay Ramaswamy

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Vidarbha opener Sanjay Ramaswamy continued his incredible start to the 2017-18 Ranji season as he scored his second century, against Bengal. The 22-year-old added 259 for the opening wicket along with Faiz Fazal and set the foundation for Vidarbha's third win of the season, that helped them go top of Group D.

The right-hander scored 182 on a tricky wicket on day one and helped his side post 499 in their first innings, which ultimately proved to be too much for Bengal, who were bundled out for 207 and 306 leaving Vidarbha with 15 to win, which they got in 9 balls courtesy of four fours from Ramaswamy.

After four matches, the 22-year-old has two centuries and a fifty. With 463 runs, he is fifth on the list of most runs this season.

Swapnil Singh

He scored his maiden f-c century in a historic encounter
He scored his maiden f-c century in a historic encounter

After the pacers did the damage on day one, Swapnil Singh walked in to bat on day two, with Baroda having already taken the lead against Mumbai in their 500th Ranji match. While the visitors held the upper hand, Swapnil's maiden first-class century helped them cement their grip on the game and took them to within touching distance of a famous victory.

When he came out to bat, Baroda's lead was 79, when he was eventually dismissed after a mammoth 164, the lead was eight shy of 400 with more than a day left in the game. Eventually, Baroda declared and he even picked up the crucial wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and in-form Prithvi Shaw in the second innings and had the hosts reeling at 102/4 at the end of day three.

However, a stoic display by the Mumbai middle-order and lower middle-order meant they had to be content with a draw and a first innings lead. But on a historic occasion, the 26-year-old had made his mark.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava