'At the end of the day, we also had to look at players who will figure in the playing XI.'
Unlike in previous years when the under-19 players were in focus and even got lucrative offers, this time the franchises were rather subdued when it came to locking in the junior stars as evidently, it takes time for them to be mature enough for top-flight cricket.
Having hurt his left landing leg, Ishan made a comeback in 12 days from an injury that usually takes three weeks to heal and his 6-2-17-4 skittled Pakistan out for 69 in the semi-final.
It has been a dramatic turnaround for the KL Rahul-led side after a string a losses earlier in the tournament.
Echoing national selection committee chairman MSK Prasad's words, former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday said Bengal wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is ahead of Parthiv Patel in race to play Test cricket.
The nail-biting win over defending champions Mumbai Indians was certainly a morale-lifter but the inconsistent Kings XI Punjab have another tough battle at hand when they take on table toppers Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, in Dubai, on Tuesday.
A desperate Sunrisers Hyderabad would seek inspiration from skipper David Warner to arrest any further slide when they take on Punjab Kings in an IPL match, in Chennai, on Wednesday.
Their bowling attacks struggling to find form, Kings XI Punjab and SunRisers Hyderabad will look towards their power-hitters to do the job when the two erratic teams go head to head in an IPL match, in Dubai, on Thursday.
A round-up of Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
CSK have better resources but they must utilise them to the hilt. Teams:
Coming off heartbreaking losses, the Indian Premier League game between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab will be a test of character for both sides as they look to get back to winning ways, in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
The match, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, will also be a face-off between skippers KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both seen as future India captaincy material.
A restructured Kings XI Punjab have all the required ingredients to achieve success in the upcoming IPL but they have to ensure that good starts are not squandered and their overseas combination is apt.
Heavyweight Cheteshwar Pujara was down with fever as Bengal gained the upperhand against a scratchy Saurashtra on an attritional opening day's play in the Ranji Trophy final, in Rajkot, on Monday. Avi Barot and Vishvaraj Jadeja struck gritty half-centuries before Bengal pacer Akash Deep struck late in the final session to leave Saurashtra at 206 for five at stumps on Day 1.
A win for Punjab will elevate them to the top four, while a victory for KKR will take them to 14 points
It was batters who mostly lead their teams to victories and some into the knock-outs. While Mumbai trailblazer Sarfaraz Khan continues to find the big runs, Baba Indrajith's consistency wasn't enough for Tamil Nadu to make even the top two in Group H.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan was back amongst the runs with a brisk 52 off 43 balls but it wasn't enough to get India 'A' over the line against South Africa 'A' in a rain-hit unofficial fourth ODI.
Last season, Punjab finished 6th, narrowly missing on the playoffs.
A summary of Day 2 action in the Ranji Trophy matches, played at various venues across the country.
With the national selection committee and the team management deciding to promote Rohit as an opener, keeping his spunky strokeplay in mind, the next five Tests could be a make or break for the 32-year-old stylish right-hander.
Both KXIP and the Royals would look to build a winning momentum after starting the tournament as underdogs.
Here is a look at the team that will open its campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on April 12.
Australia-bound Mohammed Shami defied BCCI's instruction of not bowling more than 15 overs in the Ranji game against Kerala.
A round-up of results from the Ranji Trophy matches played on Sunday.
Summary of all Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Saturday.
The odds will be stacked heavily in favour of India when the title contenders, with an eye on securing a knockout berth, meet minnows Papua New Guinea in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in Mount Maunganui, on Tuesday.
Mumbai bowlers restricted Delhi to 211/7 and then cantered to the target in 31.5 overs, as Prithvi Shaw tore into the Delhi attack.
Krishnappa Gowtham's late assault proved to the difference as India B registered a comprehensive 51-run win over India C to win the Deodhar Trophy title.
Domestic giants Mumbai continued its winning run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy thrashing Madhya Pradesh by nine wickets in Mumbai on Monday.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Sunday
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Saturday.
Railways caused the biggest upset in this Ranji Trophy season so far, after they defeated domestic giants Mumbai by 10 wickets within three days in their Elite Group B match, in Mumbai, on Friday. Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan (5-60) took five wickets, as Mumbai were bundled out for 198 in their second essay at the Wankhede Stadium, after India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane failed miserably in the second innings as well.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, on Saturday, emphasised on smooth transition of the Under-19 World Cup winning players, who impressed with their discipline and controlled aggression during their victorious campaign.
Veteran Wasim Jaffer became the first batsman to reach the landmark of 11,000 runs in Ranji Trophy during Day 2 of Nagpur's Group A match against Baroda on Wednesday.
Australia looked on course for a total in the range of 250 in the 40th over before India's spinners took charge. The Jason Sangha-led side lost its last six wickets for 33 runs and was dismissed in 47.2 overs.
Shubham Pundir top-scored with 42 to take J&K to 139 for eight in 20 overs.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Monday.
Cheteshwar Pujara missed out on a second successive double hundred but his 182 went a long way in Saurashtra piling up a mammoth 570 in their first innings against Gujarat on the second day of the Ranji Trophy.
After bagging lucrative deals at the Indian Premier League Players' Auction, the Indian team will be eager to deliver when they face arch-rivals Pakistan in the second semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Christchurch, on Tuesday.
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