Mumbai ended their eight-year wait for their 42nd
Ranji Trophy
title on Thursday, while Tamil Nadu made the knockouts after eight years. In a season during which no batsman crossed 1000 runs, young Turks took centrestage, while seasoned campaigners like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ricky Bhui, Jalaj Saxena and Sachin Baby showcased red-hot form.
Spinners called the shots, but medium pacers like Shardul Thakur and
Vyshak Vijaykumar
made a statement with their all-round abilities.
TOI put together a Sai Kishore-led Ranji Trophy XI, with focus on players who could go the distance in red-ball cricket...
N Jagadeesan (TN)
At the beginning of the season, the Tamil Nadu opener was jostling for a place in the team, but he sealed the deal with an unbeaten double century (245 n.o.) against Railways and upped the ante with a triple hundred (321) against Chandigarh in the ensuing match. The wicketkeeper bat's form did slip in the knockouts, but he played a crucial role in ensuring his team's entry into the quarterfinals with 816 runs in nine matches. The 28 dismissals as a wicketkeeper too cannot be overlooked.
Devdutt Padikkal (Karnataka)
Starting the season with a 193 against Punjab, the southpaw was in sensational form throughout the season. The opener scored 556 runs - including three centuries-in four matches for Karnataka. The 23-year-old rightly earned an India 'A' and subsequently a maiden India call-up into the Test squad.
Musheer Khan (Mumbai)
Three matches, 443 runs including an unbeaten double hundred (203 n.o.) - Musheer Khan carried forward his form from the U-19 World Cup into the Mumbai team. The top-order bat, who is also a handy spinner, turned things around for Mumbai in the knockouts and was among the brightest prospects to emerge this season.
Shashwat Rawat (Baroda)
Baroda may have returned a mixed bag with their quarterfinals exit against Mumbai, but not before a young Shashwat Rawat showcased his batting prowess. The 22-year-old left-hand bat had a breakthrough season with 784 runs from eight matches which included four centuries and two half centuries.
Akshay Wadekar (Vidarbha)
When you think of captain's who led from the front in the domestic circuit, one of the first names that comes to mind is Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar. The 29-year-old was among the best wicketkeeper-batters this season. Apart from the 637 runs he scored, he also had 24 dismissals behind the stumps to his credit, which included 22 catches and two stumpings.
Sai Kishore (Captain; TN)
Much has been said about Sai Kishore's decision to bat first against Mumbai in the semifinals, even if it was an error of judgement, it is collective responsibility. But the 27-year-old has walked the talk as a leader claiming 53 wickets with his left arm spin-the highest this season. This apart, the lanky cricketer also contributed with two half centuries.
Shardul Thakur (Mumbai)
Five matches 255 runs and 16 wickets, the bowling allrounder stood up to be counted at the most crucial junctures during Mumbai's journey to the title. When the chips were down in the final against Vidarbha, he came up with a counterattacking 69-ball 75, this after a defining century against Tamil Nadu in the semifinals.
Shams Mulani (Mumbai)
Over the past few seasons, left-arm spinner Shams Mulani has had a telling impact in domestic cricket. The 27-year old was one of the key architects of Mumbai's win with 35 wickets at an average of 24.62 and 353 runs which was highlighted by four half centuries. In the final, apart from spinning a web around the Vidarbha top order, his unbeaten 50 was the icing on the cake.
Mohit Avasthi (Mumbai)
A late bloomer with instant impact, the 31-year-old pacer unfortunately missed the finale for Mumbai, but he wreaked havoc before that. The 6 for 27 against Bihar early in the red-ball season turned out to be the trailer as he claimed seven-wicket hauls against Kerala and Bengal later in the competition. With 35 wickets, he finished as the highest wicket-taker for the champions.
Vyshak Vijaykumar (Karnataka)
While Karnataka had an indifferent tournament, which was halted by Vidarbha in the quarterfinals, medium pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar had a breakthrough season. The Bengaluru youngster claimed 39 wickets-the second highest by a pacer in the competition and contributed 343 runs to push his case for an all-rounders slot. In fact, he played a key role in ensuring the former champions made the knockouts.
Tanush Kotian (Mumbai)
The 25-year-old had a dream run this season and was fittingly adjudged the player of the tournament. The off spinner claimed 29 wickets at 16.96, while the showstopper for Mumbai contributed 502 runs with the willow. Against Baroda in the quarterfinals, Kotian (120) and
Tushar Deshpande
(123) became only the second number 10 and 11 batters in First-Class history to record tons in the same innings.
12th man: Ajith Ram (TN)
A regular in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, the 25-year-old took a while to move up the ranks and has established himself as the second-choice spinner with Sai Kishore in the lead. An old-school spinner, who enjoys long spells, collected 41 wickets with two five-wicket hauls.
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