The high-profile return of India’s stars in Ranji Trophy ended up as a damp squib with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill falling cheaply on Thursday, unable to click in the face of some hostile bowling on the opening day of their respective matches across different venues. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was the only one who stood out among the battery of Indian stars as he took a five-wicket haul for Saurashtra to dismiss Pant’s Delhi for 188 on a Rajkot turner.

However, it was a forgettable outing for the rest as they made the slow walk back to the hut following early dismissals.

Following a dismal run in Australia, Rohit returned to Ranji Trophy for defending champions Mumbai after a decade, hoping to get some runs under his belt ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy.

But it was not to be at least in Mumbai’s first innings against Jammu and Kashmir at the BKC ground here.

Going for his trademark pull off Umar Nazir, Rohit (3) got a leading edge which was caught by J&K skipper Paras Dogra at mid-off.

His India opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) too fell cheaply for Mumbai.

The southpaw was pinned in front of the wicket by Auqib Nabi, who made the most of the fresh wicket to move the new ball dangerously off the surface.

Named in the squad for the Champions Trophy, Shreyas Iyer (11) was caught at mid on off pacer Yudhvir Singh.

While the turnout to watch the India cricketing stars at the stadium was low, those in nearby buildings, who were watching the action from their office floors, returned to work soon after the 37-year-old Rohit was dismissed.

Anticipating fan interest, the Mumbai Cricket Association had made temporary seating arrangements for about 500 people at the BKC. The turnout, however, was not too high and some empty chairs could be seen.

Mumbai were eventually bowled out for a paltry 120 in 33.2 overs. The team left out their in-form teenage opener Ayush Mhatre to accommodate the stars.

The 17-year-old Mhatre has struck two hundreds and a half century this season, including a 93-ball 148 in their previous game against Saurashtra which Mumbai won by five wickets earlier this month.

This is the only Ranji game that Rohit, Jaiswal and Iyer are expected to play given that the ODI series against England is due to start early next month and they would be joining the Indian ranks for it.

Pant fizzles; Jadeja shines

In Rajkot, Pant showed up for Delhi in a first-class game for the first time since the 2017-2018 season and his stay in the middle did not last long.

The flamboyant left-hander was dismissed for 1 off 10 balls by veteran Saurashtra left-arm spinner Dharmendrasingh Jadeja. He attempted a sweep only to be caught at deep square leg.

India all-rounder Jadeja took no time to be in thick of things as he accounted for five of Delhi’s batters in his first Ranji game since 2023.

No fireworks from Gill either

In Bengaluru, Punjab captain Shubman Gill (4) was caught behind in the game against Karnataka.

The team was skittled out for a mere 55 with the pace duo of Abhilash Shetty and Vasuki Koushik sharing seven wickets between them to destroy the visitors.

Gill fell to Shetty in the fourth over of the innings.

The India stars made themselves available for Ranji Trophy after the BCCI made the contracted players’ participation in domestic cricket mandatory, following the 1-3 series loss in Australia that opened a debate on the players’ conduct and commitment to red-ball cricket.

The Board had to issue a 10-point disciplinary diktat, urging all cricketers to spare time for domestic cricket.

The fourth Test turned out to be the first game in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in which the Indian cricket team decided to enter with two spinners. While Ravindra Jadeja was already a part of India’s playing XI from the third game in Brisbane, it was Washington Sundar, who was roped in as a second spinner in the playing XI. India played the first three games of the series with lone spinners in R Ashwin, Sundar and Jadeja, respectively. There was change of plans for the visitors during the fourth game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and it was Shubman Gill who got dropped from the playing XI.

Former Australia all-rounder Mark Waugh has criticised the Indian cricket team for its selection.

“When Shubman Gill hurt his finger, they were desperate to bring him in, and now they have booted him out, and wanted an extra bowling option. Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy both can bowl and obviously Gill can’t,” Waugh said saying on commentary.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar also criticized Rohit Sharma-led India’s team selection and said that dropping batter Gill from playing eleven was “harsh”.

On the other hand, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar defended axing Shubman Gill from the Boxing Day Test, saying it was in team’s best interest to not only have Rohit Sharma back to his usual opening slot but also add some sting to the attack by drafting in spin all-rounder Sundar.

Gill, who missed the first Test due to a finger injury, scored 31 and 28 in the Pink Ball Test and looked the most assured among Indian batters. He, however, got out for a duck in Brisbane.

With Rohit Sharma opening the innings and KL Rahul coming at No. 3, Gill had to make way for a third specialist all-rounder in Washington.

“Yes, Rohit will come up in the order and more likely than not, he will open the innings. That was the thought process. Unfortunately for Gill, just how things spanned out, he had to miss out,” Nayar said at the end of the day’s play.

(With agency inputs)

File photo of Ravindra Jadeja (R) and Ravichandran Ashwin.© AFP

Not only did Ravichandran Ashwin return to form with the ball, he also set the fielding standards on Day 2 of the third Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With Daryl Mitchell and Will Young stitching up a 50-run partnership, a moment of magic was needed to break it. That moment of magic was provided by Ashwin. Not reputed for being lightning quick in the outfield, Ashwin completed a tremendous catch, running back from mid-on.

Mitchell had skied a delivery by Ravindra Jadeja, but a catch would’ve been difficult for Ashwin who would have to run back from mid-on and then put in a diving effort. But that is exactly what he did.

Watch: Fan angle of Ashwin’s sensational catch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell

What a catch by Ashwin #INDvsNZ @NorthStandGang pic.twitter.com/clE151nCEo

— Nishant Jhangiani (@NishantJhangian) November 2, 2024

The catch was called by several X users as the greatest catch of Ashwin’s career.

THE GREATEST CATCH OF ASHWIN’s CAREER

Wankhede erupts like crazy!!!#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Vs05vBxTaa

— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) November 2, 2024

R Ashwin Anna takes a screamer! The best catch of his career #INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #CricketTwitter

pic.twitter.com/L0MLRia7Cu

— Himanshu (@himanshux_) November 2, 2024

“I was just telling myself that it’s going to anyway leave me, I wanted to get as close to the ball as possible and and I’ve got great hands, so I trusted my hands to go through with it,” said Ashwin, speaking about the match after Stumps on Day 2.

Even at the age of 38, Ashwin ran back a significant amount and then took it with a spectacular diving effort, drawing the applause of a passionate Wankhede crowd.

That wicket triggered New Zealand’s collapse in the second innings, as they then went on to lose their next five wickets for just 77 runs.

From 94/3, New Zealand ended Day 2 firmly on the backfoot at 171/9, with a lead of only 143. Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets, taking his match haul to nine, while Ashwin took three wickets of his own.

A memorable moment during Ashwin’s spell was his wicket of Glenn Phillips. The New Zealand all-rounder had slammed Ashwin for two sixes in the first three balls of an over. However, Ashwin knocked off his stumps in that very over, as Phillips was left bamboozled by Ashwin’s carrom ball.

Indian cricket team during third Test vs New Zealand in Mumbai.© BCCI

Ravindra Jadeja could not hide his delight after reaching the milestone of 300 wickets in Test cricket on Monday, expressing that the moment “will forever remain” with him. Jadeja became the seventh Indian bowler to reach the coveted mark during the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The other Indian bowlers who have taken 300 Test wickets or more are: table leader Anil Kumble (619), R Ashwin (524), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), Ishant Sharma (311) and Zaheer Khan (311).

“It’s special when you achieve something for India. I’ve been playing Tests for 10 years and finally I’ve reached this milestone. I’ve done well and I’m proud of myself, and feeling happy and good,” Jadeja told the host broadcaster.

Jadeja was particularly happy to achieve the mark because everyone used to dub him as a bowler exclusive to the white-ball formats.

“It’s special and will forever remain with me. As a youngster I started with white-ball cricket and everyone used to tell me that I was a white-ball cricketer. But I worked hard with the red-ball and finally all the hard work has paid off,” said Jadeja.

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel termed Jadeja a magician with the ball.

“Ravindra Jadeja is a complete package, and the guy has magic hands. Joining the 300-wicket club is special for him,” said Morkel during the post-day press meet here.

The 35-year-old left-arm spinner also had another reason to feel proud as on this day, he also completed the rare double of 300 wickets and 3,000 runs in Test cricket.

Having achieved this feat in his 74th match, Jadeja became the second quickest to complete the cherished double behind England great Ian Botham.

Jadeja hoped that India can pluck the remaining eight Bangladesh wickets and complete a 2-0 series sweep on the final day of the match on Tuesday.

Bangladesh were 26 for two in their second innings at stumps, still trailing India by 26 runs.

“As a batter I always try to give myself some time. I react to the ball and score accordingly. Now, it’s time to take the eight wickets and chase the target, hopefully it won’t be a big total,” he added.

Ravindra Jadeja is a complete package who can create magic on the field, India’s bowling coach Morke Morkel gushed on Monday, extolling the incredible skills of the all-rounder who achieved the double of 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs. Jadeja became the second fastest to achieve the milestone, reaching there in 74 Tests, two more than England great Ian Botham. The 35-year-old entered the 300-wicket club when he dismissed Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud on the fourth day of the rain-hit second Test in Kanpur.

“For me, he’s a complete package. You know, he bats, he bowls, he’s a guy in the field that can make magic happen. There’s always a guy that you want in your team, and he’s done that for so many years for India,” Morkel said in the post-day press meet.

“To join the 300 club is special. He’s a guy that works on his game. That is what you want to see.” Over the years, Jadeja has partnered with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to destroy opponents, and Morkel said the pair hardly allows any scoring opportunities for the batters.

“These are guys that don’t give you any bad balls. You always (have to) find ways to score. If you face that from both ends, you’re going to work hard for your run. And that’s why, as a partnership, they’ve been so successful.” A combination of inclement weather and wet outfield had resulted in two full days of inaction, but Morkel said his wards kept themselves ready for action.

“It’s never nice losing time and days. I knew the boys sitting around the hotel, that was sort of very frustrating. But the way the guys went off the field, still doing their gym work, looking after their bodies, was impressive to see for me coming into the group.

“We knew, once we get the opportunity, we’re always going to look at the positive way and how we can impact that. Throughout the day, we showed the intent that we’re going to play,” he noted.

Morkel was not surprised at all to see Indian batters going all guns blazing in their first innings, considering the lost time.

“The way the boys went to the ball up-front, it was incredible to see. We created the pressure (with the ball) and brought wickets, and then to show the intent with the bat was awesome.

“It was always a part of our game plan to see, how can we push this going forward? And how can we get the winning result?” When their turn came to bowl, India quickly reduced Bangladesh to 26 for two in the second innings, and for Morkel Test cricket is all about creating pressure.

“If you can do that for a long period, you’ll get results. I think there’s so much experience, these guys that can sum up the conditions very well, so they know what’s important in that moment.

“And then, it’s just a matter of executing it. You can have the best laid plans, but if you can’t execute it for a long period of time, you’re going to fall short. But this group so far has been on the money, great to see how we adapt to conditions.” Morkel was also asked about the Indian batters’ approach, especially Rishabh Pant changing tactics and playing to the situation.

The 39-year-old said that the flexible approach gives the team a lot of advantage.

“We’ve got guys that can play different styles. If needed, they can take the game on. If needed, they can bat time. That’s one of the advantages of our batting line-up is that we’ve got guys that can really sort of play the moment and put bowlers under pressure.

“That’s one thing you want to do as a batter, is to put the bowlers under pressure. We’ve got the guys that know how to score big runs,” he detailed.

Morkel lauded the Indian team’s professionalism, and said it was a privilege for him to be in this environment.

“For me, it’s so far, so enjoyable to see how professional they are and how they go about their daily life to put on a performance. When it comes to recovery, you know, it’s right up there.

“When it comes to gym work, fitness work, they honestly leave no stone unturned. I’m not surprised,” he added.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is on the brink of a huge record in Test cricket. The star player could thus top a list a list that includes two other Indian greats — Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin. Jadeja needs only one wicket to complete 300 scalps in Test cricket. If he manages to achieve the feat in India’s Kanpur Test vs Bangladesh, it will make him the fastest player from the nation to complete 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. Overall, Jadeja will be at the second spot as Ian Botham, who took 72 matches to reach the milestone, is at the helm. The ongoing second Test vs Bangladesh is Jadeja’s 73rd game in the format.

Bad light followed by heavy rain ended play before tea on day one of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur with the visitors 107-3 on Friday, while the next two days were washed out without a ball being bowled. 

Mominul Haque, on 40, and Mushfiqur Rahim, on six, were batting when dark clouds made visibility tough and umpires took the players off the ground after lunch.

The match could be the last Test outing for former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who announced his impending international retirement on Thursday.

Dim light turned into heavy rain and officials called off play after the covers were laid out, with more downpours forecast for Saturday in the northern Indian city.

India, who lead the two-match series 1-0, elected to field in overcast conditions and fast bowler Akash Deep vindicated captain Rohit Sharma’s decision with two wickets in the first hour of play.

He removed openers Zakir Hasan, caught out for a duck, and Shadman Islam, trapped lbw on 24, with his seaming deliveries to the left-handers.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 31, put on 51 runs with Mominul to play out the remainder of the first session, but first-match hero Ravichandran Ashwin broke the stand after lunch.

Off-spinner Ashwin, who hit a century and took six wickets in India’s opening win, took down Najmul lbw with a turning delivery from around the wicket.

The hosts have come in unchanged with three seamers, who have regularly troubled the opposition batsmen with plenty of deliveries beating the bat.

Bangladesh ex-captain Shakib, 37, announced his international retirement on Thursday and could be playing his last Test match if he is unable to return home for a slated South Africa series.

Shakib is a former lawmaker for the party of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and has stayed away from Bangladesh due to the threat of criminal charges levelled against him and dozens of her former allies.

(With AFP Inputs)

File photo of Ravindra Jadeja.© AFP

File photo of Ravindra Jadeja (left) and MS Dhoni.© X (formerly Twitter)