Top 5 performers from the 3rd round of Ranji Trophy 2017-18

The third round of the Ranji Trophy season came to an end today with Karnataka, Punjab, Railways, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala all notching up victories.

Tamil Nadu and Mumbai played out a thrilling draw, with the former coming away with the vital three points.

In this article, let's take a look at the top 5 performers of the third round.

#5 Shreyas Iyer

The 22-year-old Mumbai youngster was recently rewarded with his first national call-up after consistently performing well at the domestic level.

The third round of the Ranji Trophy was no different as he notched up 195 runs in the match, including a sumptuous century in the second innings. What was even more impressive was his exceptional strike-rate and the way he took the attack to the Tamil Nadu bowlers.

However, Mumbai had to make do with just one point as Tamil Nadu ended with three points courtesy a first-innings lead.

Iyer will now travel to Delhi for the first T20I between India and New Zealand on November 1.

#4 Baba Indrajith

The 23-year-old youngster has grabbed the eyeballs of selectors after an exceptional performance against Mumbai in the 3rd round.

It was his innings which led to Tamil Nadu achieving the vital first innings lead which gave them the advantage and the three points in the end.

Tamil Nadu was in a spot of bother after losing four wickets for just 69 runs. However, Indrajith turned the match on its head and produced a well-crafted century and put on a 157 run partnership with Washington Sundar for the fifth wicket.

He ended with 152 runs to his name in 247 balls with fourteen fours to his name.

#3 Jiwanjot Singh

After losing the first two matches, Punjab produced a special performance in the third round to defeat a hapless Goa side by an innings and 133 runs. By doing so, they grabbed all seven points.

Jiwanjot Singh led from the front and played a captain's knock as Punjab amassed 635 runs in the first innings. His career-best knock of 238 came in 293 deliveries with thirty fours and one six to his name.

Apart from Jiwanjot, Anmolpreet Singh and Gurkeerat Singh Mann scored centuries as well.

Goa had no answer to Punjab as they were bowled out for 246 in the first innings and 256 in the second.

#2 Hanuma Vihari

Andhra Pradesh captain Hanuma Vihari notched up his first ever triple century and the second one of the Ranji Trophy season so far after Prashant Chopra did so in the first round.

Leading from the front, his 302 run knock, along with two centuries from Prashanth Kumar and Ricky Bhui respectively helped Andhra amass 584 in the first innings.

The Odisha side put up a tough fight but fell short of a first innings lead by 193 runs. However, they managed to salvage a draw in the end as Andhra were unable to bowl them out in the second innings.

#1 Jalaj Saxena

Kerala's Jalaj Saxena produced one of the best Ranji Trophy performance ever, both with the bat and the ball.

After scoring 79 in the first innings, he ripped through the Rajasthan batting line-up as he picked up eight wickets for 85 runs, one of his best ever bowling figures.

He followed that up with a magnificent century in the second innings which helped Kerala set a stiff target of 342 for Rajasthan to chase down.

He picked up two wickets in the final innings which helped his side defeat Rajasthan who were bowled out for 211.