The Jharkhand State Cricket Association has announced its squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, ushering in a new era under the leadership of Ishan Kishan. The official announcement was made on Wednesday, October 9, setting the stage for the premier First-Class cricket tournament in India, which is set to commence on October 11. The selection of the 26-year-old star batter as the captain marks a significant move by the association as they rebuild the team with a focus on youth and vigor.
Ishan Kishan’s appointment as captain comes as a notable development after he opted out of the previous Ranji Trophy season. This decision reportedly led to his exclusion from the BCCI’s central contracts list, signaling a downturn in his relationship with the national cricket administration. However, a push by the BCCI encouraging players who are not regularly featuring in the international circuit to participate actively in domestic cricket has seen the talented wicketkeeper-batter make a return to the domestic scene. Kishan’s recent appearances in both the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup have showcased his commitment to making a mark in First-Class cricket once again.
With the mantle of leadership now passed from veteran Saurabh Tiwary to Ishan Kishan, following Tiwary’s retirement, Kishan is faced with the responsibility of leading a transformed team. Virat Singh, the previous captain, has been named vice-captain, offering his experience and insights as vital support to Ishan as he navigates this crucial role for the upcoming season.
The Jharkhand squad has been revamped, given the retirements of key players like Saurabh Tiwary, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Varun Aaron earlier this year. This has paved the way for younger talent to take center stage in the Ranji Trophy, an opportunity the Jharkhand selectors have seized wholeheartedly.
. Among the new appointments, Kumar Kushagra has been selected as the wicketkeeper for the team, underscoring the strategic reassignment of roles within the team framework.
Subroto Das, chairman of Jharkhand’s selection committee, expressed optimism regarding the team’s prospects this season. Commenting on Kishan’s elevation to captaincy, Das stated, “Ishan is an experienced player and he has international exposure, which is invaluable. Our approach this year is markedly different, considering the retirements of seasoned players such as Saurabh Tiwary, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Varun Aaron. We believe Ishan has the capability to lead this youthful team and perform splendidly in this Ranji season.”
Ishan Kishan’s recent form has shown promise, with a commendable century during the Duleep Trophy while representing India C. This was, however, followed by three consecutive low scores, suggesting some inconsistency that he will look to rectify in the forthcoming matches. Additionally, his performance as a batter in the Irani Cup against Mumbai where he scored 38 runs in the first innings indicates his determination to stabilize his form.
The Jharkhand squad for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is as follows: Ishan Kishan (Captain), Virat Singh (Vice-Captain), Kumar Kushagra (Wicketkeeper), Nazim Siddique, Aryaman Sen, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Suraj, Anukul Roy, Utkarsh Singh, Supriyo Chakraborty, Saurabh Shekhar, Vikas Kumar, Vivekanand Tiwary, Manishi, Ravi Kumar Yadav, and Raunak Kumar.
As the tournament kicks off, all eyes will be on Ishan Kishan to see how he manages to steer Jharkhand, a unit brimming with young talent, through the challenges of India’s most prestigious domestic cricket competition. This Ranji season promises a blend of resilience and renewed strategy as Jharkhand sets out to make its mark under new leadership.
