Thu Jan 23 13:57:14 UTC 2025: ## Ranji Trophy Underwhelms as Star India Players Struggle; Desai Shines with Nine-Wicket Haul

**Mumbai, India –** The return of several high-profile Indian cricketers to the domestic circuit for the Ranji Trophy’s final two rounds proved underwhelming on day one. Much-anticipated performances from Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant were notably disappointing, with the quartet dismissed for a paltry combined total of 12 runs.

This lackluster showing from India’s top players contrasted sharply with the standout performance of Aarya Desai for Gujarat, who claimed an impressive nine wickets in an innings against Uttarakhand. Khaleel Ahmed further strengthened his case for a Test recall with a five-wicket haul against Vidarbha. Positive performances also came from Tanmay Agarwal, who notched his third century of the season, surpassing 700 runs, and 18-year-old Andre Siddarth, who scored a maiden first-class century for Tamil Nadu.

The matches attracted significant attention due to the BCCI’s new mandates requiring several star players to participate. Rohit Sharma, playing for Mumbai for the first time since 2015, aimed to regain form after a recent dip in Test performance. Other notable returns included Shubman Gill for Punjab and Rishabh Pant for Delhi. Several key players were absent due to injury or workload management, including Mohammed Siraj and Sarfaraz Khan.

The Delhi vs Saurashtra match, featuring Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, generated considerable excitement, while the J&K vs Mumbai clash, pitting the second-placed J&K against the defending champions, was considered the game of the round. A J&K upset could potentially eliminate Mumbai from the quarterfinals.

Live scores revealed mixed results across various matches. Karnataka established a significant lead over Punjab, while Kerala trailed Madhya Pradesh. Saurashtra and Delhi remained closely matched, and J&K managed to restrict Mumbai despite a late surge from Shardul Thakur. Tanmay Agarwal’s century guided Hyderabad to a strong position, while Tamil Nadu’s initial success was cut short by a late collapse. Ravindra Jadeja provided a bright spot for Saurashtra with a quick-fire innings.

The day’s play ultimately highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Ranji Trophy, where individual brilliance could overshadow the anticipated dominance of India’s top players.

Read More