A summary of Ranji matches played on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma stamped his class with an authoritative hundred in the company of magnificent Virat Kohli as India annihilated Bangladesh by nine wickets to set up a bumper summit showdown with arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, in Birmingham, on Thursday.
'It's one of the best partnerships I have been part of. We have chased 350 before but not from 63/4'
The focus will be on K L Rahul and Vijay Shankar, contenders for the number four slot, in the World Cup warm up match against New Zealand, in London, on Saturday.
Batting at number four, Dhoni, who generally bats at number six, anchored India's chase with a 114-ball 87 not out which was studded with six boundaries.
Kedar Jadhav, playing his first Indian Premier League match made his presence felt by guiding Dehi Daredevils to a 17-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore, on Thursday. The debutant hit a quickfire 50 not out from just 29 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes, to take Delhi Daredevils to a competitive 183 for four in their 20 overs.
Shaw continued from his unbeaten 240 from overnight and brought up his triple ton.
A summary of Thursday's action in the Ranji Trophy group stage matches.
National selection committee will pick India's Test and ODI teams for the New Zealand tour after a few days.
While India's rivalry with Pakistan is historic, the one against Bangladesh has been a bitter one post the controversial 2015 World Cup quarter-final at Melbourne.
Kedar Jadhav hit a half-century on debut to help Delhi Daredevils beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 17 runs in the Indian Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, on Thursday. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra shone with the ball, claiming two for 23 in four overs as Bangalore finished on 166 for nine in their 20 overs.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore on Thursday.
A round-up of the first day's play in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country, on Tuesday.
Operating like a well-oiled unit, Chennai Super Kings will start as overwhelming favourites when they clash with struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CSK revealed England fast bowler Mark Wood and uncapped Indian players Kanishk Seth and Kshitiz Sharma have been released.
India gets new face in pace attack
It will be a big statement if Virat Kohli's young side could start off with a bang at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'spritual home', a task which will be easier said than done.
Suresh Raina was on Monday ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand after failing to recover from viral fever as India decided not to make any change to the squad that has taken a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-ODI series.
The Indian Playing XI will also have Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Sunday as he replaces Mohammed Shami, who was hit on the leg in his follow through during the third match.
Mayank Agarwal has been in top form in Test cricket and he could carry that form into the limited overs series if picked in the playing XI. The Karnataka cricketer is currently playing in the Ranji Trophy and will join the national squad before the opening ODI.
If RCB win their remaining two games, they will move to 20 points and have a chance of finishing in the top two.
Tendulkar's latest opinion was strikingly different from his criticism of the former captain a few days ago when he questioned the 'lack of intent'
Hosts Australia will pull on a classic uniform from the 1980s featuring green strip on bright gold top and pants when they take on India in the three-match ODI series.
Ajinkya Rahane was chosen as captain of the depleted Indian team for the limited overs tour to Zimbabwe next month as the selectors decided to rest several seniors including Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
"Can't be so defensive against the spinners," Sehwag tweeted.
With the three-match T20I series ahead and also the World Cup round the corner, India will have to address this weakness to ensure that their much-vaunted batting doesn't crumble on an odd day when the condition aids swing bowling in England.
It will be a selection dilemma for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Anil Kumble as a fit-again Suresh Raina is back in the nets having recovered from a bout of viral fever that kept him out of first ODI in Dharamsala. With Kedar Jadhav picking up two wickets with his handy part-time off breaks, the same skill set of both the players is definitely going to be a factor as the team management decides to pick the XI for the second ODI against New Zealand on Thursday.
Pakistani players made a prolonged appeal but umpire Marais Erasmus was not convinced.
S Badrinath stood tall amid ruins before West Zone bundled out South for 199 and stretched their overall lead to 492 runs after day three of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai on Saturday.
India will miss Pant in World Cup, said Ganguly
Medium pacer Rajat Bhatia and leg spinner Chaitanya Nanda shared eight wickets to help Delhi bundle out Maharashtra for a meagre 219 runs on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group A tie.
India now are the only team to have chased 350-plus thrice and in each of them Kohli has been the backbone with centuries in each.
A World Cup victory will put Kohli in a league of his own and even those sceptical about his tactical nous, will have no other option but to grudgingly doff their hats at his heady achievements.
Unmukt Chand has been appointed India A captain for the upcoming ODI tri-series involving Australia A and South Africa A starting in Chennai on August 5.
The series appeared done and dusted when in the 4th ODI on Sunday India began a modest 190-run chase but their intimidating batting line-up fell short by 11 runs in a stunning turnaround on a slow pitch.
The confidence Kedar Jadhav has in his bowling comes from the fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni used him as a surprise weapon during the ODI series at home against New Zealand last year.
The hosts have not name a replacement for the left-handed batsman, with Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul both able to play at the top.
'Let's see. You are the first one to tell me this. I need to see why they have not picked me. I don't know what the plan is now that I am not there in the team. Probably, I will be playing the Ranji Trophy'
Mumbai were 113 for two in 38 overs at stumps on Day of the Ranji Trophy match in reply to Maharashtra's first innings of 451.
In the bowlers' list, Bumrah is sitting at the top with 774 points.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances