With Sri Lanka series around the corner, Express takes a quick look at the performances of some Test specialists in Ranji Trophy...
Umesh Yadav
Mat 2 | Wickets 9 | Avg 27.55
After being left out of the New Zealand series, Umesh returned for Vidarbha for the Chattisgarh game, taking 6 wickets. It wasn’t enough to stop Chattisgarh from taking a first-innings lead. Took 2/80 and 1/31 in the next tie.
Wriddhiman Saha
Mat 4 | Runs 230 | Avg 38.33
Saha has been the unsung hero of the Indian Test side and his most recent outing will please the management. His breezy 97 off 116 against Vidarbha in the second innings for Bengal, will certainly boost his confidence.
Murali Vijay
Mat 3 | Runs 210 | Avg 52.50
Injuries have been troubling Vijay of late. He missed the Sri Lanka tour with a wrist injury, and a couple of low scores in the Ranji Trophy, followed by more injury woes, raised doubts over his participation in the upcoming series. But he allayed fears with a chanceless century against Odisha.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Mat 4 | Runs 437 | Avg 87.40
The India No 3 had an indifferent start, but it didn’t take long for him to find his groove. After going past Vijay Merchant’s record of 11 first-class double hundreds against Jharkhand, he made 182 against champions Gujarat, giving Saurashtra a first-innings lead in the process.
Ishant Sharma
Mat 3 | Wickets 15 | Avg 13.93
Named Delhi skipper for the first time, Ishant led by example in the opener against Assam, taking his 12th first-class five-wicket haul. Had a decent run in his previous outing (match figures of 6/76) on a bouncy Palam track before being rested.