The importance of Indian cricketers participating in domestic cricket has become a hot topic, especially after India’s recent struggles in Test matches. The team suffered a rare home series loss to New Zealand after 12 years and a 3-1 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In response, many experts and former players have advocated for Indian stars to play more Ranji Trophy matches to stay connected with the domestic cricket ecosystem.
Acknowledging these concerns, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a new 10-point player policy. One of its key directives makes participation in domestic cricket mandatory for eligibility in the national team and central contracts. Exceptions will only be granted under extraordinary circumstances with approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee.
The policy aims to bridge the gap between international and domestic cricket, enabling senior players to guide emerging talents and maintain match fitness. As players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal confirm their participation in upcoming Ranji matches, the status of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remains uncertain.
Here’s a recap of the last Ranji Trophy appearances of India’s Test players:
Rohit Sharma
Rohit last represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in November 2015. He scored an impressive 113 off 140 balls against Uttar Pradesh in a match that ended in a draw. Other notable contributions came from Shreyas Iyer (137) and Abhishek Nayar (42 runs and four wickets).
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Before his Test debut in 2023, Jaiswal played for Mumbai in January 2023. His scores of 0 and 14 against Maharashtra did little to impact the match, which ended in a draw.
Shubman Gill
Gill’s last Ranji appearance for Punjab was in January 2022 during the quarterfinals against Madhya Pradesh. He managed scores of 9 and 19 as his team fell short.
Virat Kohli
Kohli played his last Ranji match in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh. Scoring 14 and 42 in his two innings, he fell victim to pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kohli’s first-class career includes 11,479 runs with 37 centuries and a best of 254*.
KL Rahul
Rahul last appeared in the Ranji Trophy in March 2020 for Karnataka. In the semifinal against Bengal, he scored 26 and 0, and his team lost the match.
Rishabh Pant
Pant led Delhi to the Ranji final in the 2017-18 season but could only manage scores of 21 and 32 in the title clash against Vidarbha. Despite his leadership, Vidarbha claimed the trophy.
Dhruv Jurel
Jurel’s last Ranji outing was in January 2024 against Kerala, where he played a crucial knock of 63 runs. He made his Test debut later that year during a home series against England.
Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz’s most recent Ranji match came in January 2024, where he managed only one run against Bihar. Mumbai, however, won the match by an inning.
Washington Sundar
Sundar’s all-round brilliance was on display during a 2024-25 match against Delhi. He scored 152 runs and claimed six wickets, earning a national comeback for the New Zealand series.
Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja played for Saurashtra in January 2023, where he delivered a stunning performance with eight wickets, including 7/48 in the second innings. Despite his efforts, Saurashtra lost the match to Tamil Nadu.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
In October 2024, Reddy scored 47 and 34 for Andhra Pradesh against Gujarat. He also took one wicket, though Andhra Pradesh narrowly lost by one wicket.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah’s last Ranji appearance was in January 2017 for Gujarat against Jharkhand in the semifinals. He took seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul, earning the Player of the Match award as Gujarat reached the final.
Prasidh Krishna
Krishna played his last Ranji match in October 2024, taking one wicket in eight overs during a match against Madhya Pradesh.
Harshit Rana
Rana’s all-round show against Assam in October 2024 saw him score a quick fifty and take a five-wicket haul. This performance earned him a Test debut during a historic win in Perth.
The BCCI’s new policy aims to integrate the experience of senior players into domestic cricket while maintaining a robust pipeline of talent. As Indian stars prepare to return to the Ranji Trophy, it marks a step toward fostering a stronger connection between international and domestic cricket.
