Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan & KL Rahul Set to Play Ranji Trophy After Gambhir Cracks the Whip

As the Test series with South Africa takes the high profile, some of the front line and reserve Test cricketers in India will take part in the coming Ranji Trophy rounds. It is thought to be a direct result of the move following the whipping of India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir gave more importance to match practice as compared to training of the skill at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Devdutt Padikkal, Narayan Jagadeesan are some of those being ready to play in domestic red-ball action; they are India’s Test preparations and are not participating in the ongoing ODI and T20I series with Australia. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who is returning to the team after a long time due to injury, is also likely to take part in the second round Ranji game of Delhi.

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Also, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Prasidh Krishna will go with their state teams once the ODI leg is complete and hence they also will have a good chance of having an important game time before the two-Test series starts on November 14 in Kolkata.

Play Ranji instead of spending time at CoE: Gambhir

Gambhir has put it clear that the best preparation of Test cricket is competitive first-class matches.

"But again, the guys who are just part of Test cricket, I think for them to prepare and play domestic cricket is very, very important. Rather than just going to NCA (COE) and working on their skills, I think the more they play for the Test matches, it is very important for the team," he said.

He recognised the hectic time schedule because the Indian T20 team wraps up its Australian tour on 9th November and only has five days to go to the first Test but he emphasised on professionalism and match-readiness as non-negotiable.

"Sometimes it is difficult, but that is what professionalism is all about. Try and use the days to the best of their ability because we know that there are very quick turnarounds, especially from here to one-day cricket, then T20 cricket, and then, what, after four days, back to Test cricket," Gambhir said.

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The head coach cited the preparation that had been successful before the West Indies series with Rahul, Sudharsan, Jurel and Padikkal in the India A versus England Lions and Australia A-Against series, a formula that according to him should be reiterated.

"It is tough on players, especially when we are playing all three formats. But I thought that the best thing that happened in the series was the way the Test guys prepared, actually, before the series. Going to play the India A games against Australia was very, very important," Gambhir added.

As the four-day matches against South Africa A were also scheduled, Gambhir emphasized on the necessity to adhere to this format of preparation.

"Playing Ranji Trophy before the South Africa series is going to be equally important as well. I thought that is something which this group of players have done exceptionally well. They are preparing themselves really well for the Test series, and that is where you could see the results as well."

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