Ravindra Jadeja produced an excellent all-round performance, taking 5 wickets and scoring 38 runs, to help Saurashtra gain a commanding position against Delhi on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match.
The Ranji Trophy resumes on Thursday, promising a star-studded spectacle as Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant headline a host of big names returning to action.
Karnataka on shaky ground against Punjab despite Rahul's fifty; Desai puts Saurashtra on cusp of win
Saurashtra, led by the inspirational Jaydev Unadkat, will back themselves to win an elusive Ranji Trophy title at home but a buoyant Bengal will be no pushovers in what promises to be an absorbing final beginning, in Rajkot, on Monday. Both the teams are desperate to go all the way with Saurashtra reaching their fourth final in eight seasons while Bengal has not tasted success in the premier domestic event since the 1989-90 triumph.
The Ranji match between Delhi and Railways will be live streamed on JioCinema.
A summary of Ranji Trophy matches played on Tuesday
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy was on Thursday named the captain of Tamil Nadu for this seasons' national T20 tournament for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, beginning on November 26.
Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi's 22-member provisional squad for their next Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra in Rajkot but doubts remain about his participation after it came to light that he is nursing a niggle.
The 16-year-old Anvay has been the top-scorer for the state in the last edition of the tournament.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Shubman Gill has also confirmed his availability for Punjab's upcoming Ranji Trophy sixth-round fixture against Karnataka, set to begin on January 23.
Ravindra Jadeja starred with a 12-wicket haul for Saurashtra, but India's top stars, including Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, failed to impress in the Ranji Trophy.
Skipper Ankit Kumar's brilliant century put defending champions Mumbai on the back foot as Haryana reached 263 for five at stumps on the second day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final.
For Saurashtra, the star performers were Sheldon Jackson, Arpit Vasavada, and of course, their captain Jaydev Unadkat.
Vijay Hazare: Pant's unbeaten half-ton in big Delhi win over Services; Axar hits century for Gujarat
Every innings he played will be remembered along with every drop of sweat he shed to display the purity of technique with resilience, recalls veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
Bengal were 134 for three in 65 overs at close of play on Day 3, trailing Saurashtra by 291 runs, with Chatterjee and Wriddhiman Saha (4 off 43) in the middle.
Set a target of 206, Saurashtra folded for 127 in 58.4 overs, giving Vidarbha their second title triumph in the country's marquee first-class tournament.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday.
A summary of Friday's action in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country.
But they seemed to learn nothing from their past mistakes.
Saurashtra clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy Plate division title after beating Rajasthan by an innings and 34 runs in the final.
Virat Kohli confirms his availability for Vijay Hazare Trophy
Past is past, focussed on leading Bengal now: Abhimanyu Easwaran on India snub
Saurashtra bowlers produced a sterling performance to put them in a commanding position in their Group 'A' Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Rajkot on Sunday.
They beat Madhya Pradesh by virtue of the first innings lead after the five-day semi-final ended in a draw.
Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat took four wickets in the second innings and took his match tally to nine for 116 as Saurashtra thrashed Vidarbha by an innings and 85 runs and booked a place in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals for the first time in three seasons, in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday.
India will be desperate for a quality replacement for the crucial No. 4 slot with Shubman Gill likely to be ruled out for the must-win second and final Test against South Africa.
It must be mentioned here that veteran bowler Ishant Sharma has already told DDCA that he won't play red-ball cricket anymore now that he is no longer in contention for a national comeback.
Riding on a splendid bowling performance led by off-spinner Vishal Joshi, Saurashtra on Sunday thrashed Punjab by 229 runs to enter the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in 75 years.
BCCI's general manager of cricket Saba Karim had said the limited use of DRS was always planned for the Ranji Trophy semifinals and not from the knockout stages.
Summary of all Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday
Pujara hit his 49th first class hundred and shared an unconquered 201-run fourth-wicket stand with Sheldon Jackson (90) to help his side end the fourth day at 224 for three, just 55 runs away from the victory.
'That is how he developed his concentration and focus.'
Saurashtra captain and lead pacer Jaydev Unadkar led from the front with a seven-wicket haul as Gujarat were bowled out for 234 in the final session on day five.
Comeback man Dhawal Kulkarni wreaked havoc with the new ball to hand Mumbai the initial edge in their quest for 41st Ranji Trophy title by reducing Saurashtra to 192 for eight in the first innings on the opening day of the summit clash, in Pune on Wednesday. Back in the side after missing the semifinal due to a groin strain, Kulkarni utilised the green track on offer to perfection after Mumbai skipper Aditya Tare won the toss and invited Saurashtra to bat. -Scorecard Kulkarni was spot on with his line and length, and managed to cut through Saurashtra top-order with figures of four for 30, which included the important wickets of opener Avi Barot, Cheteshwar Pujara, Arpit Vasavada and skipper Jaydev Shah. Kulkarni was ably supported by his new ball partner Shardul Thakur (2/59), Abhishek Nayar (1/42) and Balwinder Sandhu (1/41). Kulkarni, in particular, produced an impressive opening spell as Mumbai reduced Saurashtra to 108 for seven at one stage. Had it not been for Arpit Vasavada and debutant Prerak Mankad, it could have been an embarrassing scorecard for Saurashtra at the end of day's play during which they played 84.4 overs.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Sunday.
Maharashtra secured a resounding 439-run victory over Baroda in a Group A Ranji Trophy match, keeping defending champions Mumbai's hopes alive for the knockout stage.
A wrap-up of the second day action of the Ranji Trophy Elite division matches across the country on Wednesday.
Services achieved the second highest successful run-chase in Ranji Trophy history as they overhauled a 376-run target against Odisha.
Riding on a splendid bowling spell by debutant seamer Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Saurashtra beat Madhya Pradesh by 227 runs on the fourth and final day of their Ranji Trophy Group A match and entered into knockout stage.
