The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season got underway on Sunday with 16 matches across the country, and it was the bowlers who grabbed the early headlines — headlined by Mohammed Shami's four-wicket haul for Bengal, while a clutch of India stars endured a miserable day with the bat.
Shami returned figures of 4 for 30 in 17.3 overs, including nine maidens, as Bengal folded Delhi for 240 at Kalyani. Delhi were in deeper trouble at under 200 before a defiant fifty from Hrithik Shokeen frustrated the hosts after tea. Spinner Aamir Gani picked up three wickets, while Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep shared three more.
A day to forget for the big names
KL Rahul managed just 4 against Andhra, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a 13-ball duck against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium, and Sarfaraz Khan lasted a single run before being trapped lbw, with Mumbai closing at 249 for five after fifties from captain Siddhesh Lad and Musheer Khan.
There was no such trouble for Ravindra Jadeja, who walked out for Saurashtra against Chhattisgarh and finished unbeaten on 72, alongside Prerak Mankad's 92 not out, taking the side to 308 for four at stumps.
Centuries across the country
Jharkhand opener Shikhar Mohan registered the season's first hundred, a commanding 143 against Kerala that powered his side to 289 for five. Karnataka captain Smaran Ravichandran single-handedly rescued his side with 126 after they slipped to 22 for four, before Andhra closed at 16 for two.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir began their title defence in style in Srinagar, folding Madhya Pradesh for 196 — young Rohit Sharma took five wickets and Sunil Kumar four — before reaching 3 for 1 at stumps.
Centuries also came from Rinku Singh and Madhav Kaushik, whose unbeaten 202-run stand carried Uttar Pradesh to 287 for three against Bihar, Ankit Bawne (105 not out) for Maharashtra, Gourav Choudhary (121 not out) for Odisha, Karan Lamba (103 not out) for Rajasthan, Vivek Singh for Railways, and Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadekar for Vidarbha — six centurions on the opening day in all.
Sources: Hindustan Times: Ranji Trophy First Round Updates: Shami picks up 4 wickets; Sarfaraz endures similar fate as KL Rahul, Jaiswal
Shami returned figures of 4 for 30 in 17.3 overs, including nine maidens, as Bengal folded Delhi for 240 at Kalyani. Delhi were in deeper trouble at under 200 before a defiant fifty from Hrithik Shokeen frustrated the hosts after tea. Spinner Aamir Gani picked up three wickets, while Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep shared three more.
A day to forget for the big names
KL Rahul managed just 4 against Andhra, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a 13-ball duck against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium, and Sarfaraz Khan lasted a single run before being trapped lbw, with Mumbai closing at 249 for five after fifties from captain Siddhesh Lad and Musheer Khan.
There was no such trouble for Ravindra Jadeja, who walked out for Saurashtra against Chhattisgarh and finished unbeaten on 72, alongside Prerak Mankad's 92 not out, taking the side to 308 for four at stumps.
Centuries across the country
Jharkhand opener Shikhar Mohan registered the season's first hundred, a commanding 143 against Kerala that powered his side to 289 for five. Karnataka captain Smaran Ravichandran single-handedly rescued his side with 126 after they slipped to 22 for four, before Andhra closed at 16 for two.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir began their title defence in style in Srinagar, folding Madhya Pradesh for 196 — young Rohit Sharma took five wickets and Sunil Kumar four — before reaching 3 for 1 at stumps.
Centuries also came from Rinku Singh and Madhav Kaushik, whose unbeaten 202-run stand carried Uttar Pradesh to 287 for three against Bihar, Ankit Bawne (105 not out) for Maharashtra, Gourav Choudhary (121 not out) for Odisha, Karan Lamba (103 not out) for Rajasthan, Vivek Singh for Railways, and Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadekar for Vidarbha — six centurions on the opening day in all.
Sources: Hindustan Times: Ranji Trophy First Round Updates: Shami picks up 4 wickets; Sarfaraz endures similar fate as KL Rahul, Jaiswal
