Top 5 Domestic Players who have made their Ranji debut this season

Nathu Singh impressed the selectors enough to have been selected in the Board President's XI squadA new season of the biggest prize in Indian domestic cricket, the Ranji Trophy, is already well underway as the best teams from across the country battle it out for glory. As expected, there have been a number of incredible performances thus far in the tournament and we can be rest assured that more will follow.While some of the seasoned campaigners have done full justice to their potential, there have been a few youngsters who have impressed one and all with what they have on offer.Here are 5 of the best players who have made their Ranji debut this season.

#5 Ashish Singh (Railways)

In Ashish Singh, Railways have an excellent talent to look out for (Image Courtesy: Indian Express)

Despite a forgettable performance by Railways in this season of the Ranji Trophy so far, a young and talented batsman named Ashish Singh has been shining bright for them.

The right-handed bat has amassed 337 runs in just 8 innings at a remarkable average of 42.12 with 1 hundred and 2 fifties. Ashish missed out on a debut first-class century when he got out for 90 in his very first innings against Punjab.

It is too early to predict whether the 20-year-old has it in him to take his game to the next level, but he is surely a talent to watch out for.

#4 Nitish Rana (Delhi)

Nitish Rana (R) has been performing consistently for Delhi (Image courtesy: The Hindu)

The 21-year-old Delhi southpaw may not have got the big hundreds like some of the others, but he has certainly shown a lot of promise by being consistent in terms of scoring runs.

Nitish Rana has scored 315 runs this season at an average of exactly 45 and this includes two important half-centuries and a top score of 61 which he got on debut against Vidarbha.

One particular quality that Rana has displayed during most of his knocks is the ability to hang in there and not give his wicket away too easily and it will surely help him going forward. He just needs to learn to convert his starts into big scores as it will allow him to climb up the ranks quickly.

#3 Almas Shaukat (Uttar Pradesh)

Almas Shaukat scored a century on his First-class debut

A century on first-class debut is a feat that any batsman would be proud of and 19-year-old Uttar Pradesh batsman Almas Shaukat is someone who has achieved it.

His 128 against Madhya Pradesh in his very first match surely made people stand up and take notice. He has not done much of note in the 6 innings that followed, barring a 76 against Railways. But there is a long way left to go in the season and in the rest of Shaukat’s career and it is the promise he has shown that matters most at this point.

#2 Aditya Sarwate (Vidarbha)

Aditya Sarwate (L) has taken just 2 games to make an impression

Vidarbha’s latest sensation who has emerged this season of the Ranji Trophy is left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate.

In the 2 matches he has played so far, Sarwate has claimed 15 wickets at 15.66 and Vidarbha have won on both occasions. His best figures so far have been 6 for 64 and the 25-year-old will be looking to outperform himself in the upcoming matches.

With India’s search for an ideal spin-bowling partner for Ravichandran Ashwin still in progress, even Sarwate can come into the picture if he continues to pick up wickets in this manner.

#1 Diwesh Pathania (Services)

Diwesh Pathania has created some ripples in this Ranji Trophy season

Probably the brightest new star of this edition of the Ranji Trophy has been Services’ medium-fast bowler Diwesh Pathania.

The left-armer who hails from the Pathankot district of Punjab has already picked up 26 wickets in the 5 matches he has played so far at a fantastic average of 17.53 and best figures of 7 for 64 against Jharkhand.

He has been one of the major reasons for the success that Services are having this season. If Pathania continues in the same vein, the 26-year old could soon be in the scheme of things when it comes to national selection.