Ranji Trophy 17-18: Jharkhand vs Haryana

Match Summary: Haryana (208 & 296) lost to Jharkhand (425/9d & 81/0)
Points: Jharkhand 7, Haryana 0

The return of Shahbaz Nadeem bolstered Jharkhand as they romped home to a 10 wicket victory over Haryana. They knocked out Haryana quickly after having lost the toss. The top order failed but the middle and lower order took them to a big lead. After knocking over the Haryana top order in the 2nd innings, Jharkhand must have started scenting an innings victory. But there was some stubborn resistance, which lasted well into the final session. But the young openers chased down the target with ease and also secured a bonus point. 

Highlights

• Playing XI:Changes: 
• In: Shahbaz Nadeem, Shasheem Rathour (both in their first appearance of the season), Varun Aaron
• Out: Babul Kumar, Ajay Yadav, Ashish Kumar 
• Saurabh Tiwary continues to captain the side
• First-class century #17 for Ishank Jaggi which turned the game in Jharkhand's favour.
• Ishan Kishan crosses the landmark of 50 catches in his 29th game.
• 14th career 5-wicket haul for Shahbaz Nadeem
• 50th first-class game for Sunny Gupta

Season Stats

• Top Scorer: Ishan Kishan - 271 @54.20
• Top Wicket-taker: Sunny Gupta - 15@20.20
• Player Count: 15
• Captain Count: 2

Points Tally - 8 after 3 games. Moved up 2 places to 4th.

Coming Up Next

Saurashtra who are in the top spot.

Ranji Trophy 17-18: Jharkhand vs Rajasthan

Match Summary: Rajasthan (423) drew with Jharkhand (262 & 332/6 (f/o))
Points: Rajasthan 3, Jharkhand 1

The terrible start to the season continues as Jharkhand managed a single point against Rajasthan. Centuries by Amit Gautam and Tajinder Singh helped Rajasthan build up a big total of 423. Jharkhand batsmen did not really get going in reply with only Saurabh Tiwary managing some resistance. Jharkhand were forced to follow-on but they performed much more creditably the second time around to limit the damage and come away with one point from the game.

Highlights

• Playing XI:Changes: 
• In: Jaskaran Singh & Ajay Yadav
• Out: Varun Aaron & Samar Quadri
• Saurbah Tiwary captained the side in Varun Aaron's absence
• Nazim Siddiqui scored his maiden first-class 100 in just his second game and that too on his 23rd birthday! Not a bad birthday gift for himself!
• First-class century #16 for Ishank Jaggi and a match-saving one at that.

Season Stats

• Top Scorer: Ishan Kishan - 142 @35.50
• Top Wicket-taker: Sunny Gupta - 9@19.44
• Player Count: 13
• Captain Count: 2

Points Tally - 1 after 2 games. Moved up 1 place to 6th. Need a couple of outright wins to secure qualification.

Coming Up Next

Haryana who are currently in 7th place with no points. However, they have a game in hand. Hopefully Nadeem's return from India A duties will boost the team.

Ranji Trophy 17-18: Jharkhand vs Kerala

Match Summary: Jharkhand (202 & 89) lost to Kerala (259 & 34/1) by 9 wickets

Points: Kerala 6, Jharkhand 0

The worst possible start to the new season losing the opening game! In a low scoring encounter, Jharkhand were on the back-foot from the start. However, being routed out for 89 in the 2nd innings must have been really soul-crushing. They were done in by the all-round efforts of Jalaj Saxena who took 11 wickets and scored a half-century as well. 

Jharkhand certainly missed Shahbaz Nadeem, who is on India A duty.

Highlights

• Playing XI: Babul Kumar, Nazim Siddiqui, Virat Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Ishank Jaggi, Ishan Kishan, Kaushal Singh, Sunny Gupta, Varun Aaron, Ashish Kumar, Samar Quadri.
• Varun Aaron was leading the side.
• While most of his team-mates had an outing to forget, Sunny Gupta managed a 6-wicket haul in the first innings.
• First Class debut for Nazim Siddiqui, also his first official game at the senior level.
• Kaushal Singh reached the career milestone of a 1000 first-class runs
• Babul Kumar returned to first-class cricket after nearly 4 years. Innings of two and a duck now follow his maiden game of a single and a duck!

Season Stats

• Top Scorer: Ishan Kishan - 59 @24.50
• Top Wicket-taker: Sunny Gupta - 6@16.50
• Player Count: 11

Points Tally - 0 after 1 game. Placed right at the bottom of the table.

Coming Up Next

Rajasthan who are currently in 4th place with a solitary point form their opening game

Jharkhand Domestic Schedule: 2017-18

As is wont with Indian Cricket these days, we finally have the schedule for the Domestic season less than a week before its start. And as is also the case, the Domestic tournaments have once again been tinkered with!

Ranji Trophy will be now played in 4 groups of 7 each with the top two qualifying for the knock-outs. Done away in the promotion-relegation system. In the process reducing the minimum number of games for each team from 8 to 6. Vijay Hazare Trophy retains the previous year's format.

Slipstream Cricket will be back in action covering all of Jharkhand's games. Below are Jharkhand's domestic fixtures.

Ranji Trophy

1. October 6-9, 2017, vs Kerala

2. October 14-17, 2017, vs Rajasthan

3. October 24-27, 2017, vs Haryana

4. November 1-4, 2017, vs Saurashtra

5. November 9-13, 2017, vs Jammu & Kashmir 

6. November 25-28, 2017, vs Gujarat (the defending champions)

The knock-out rounds will be played in December, with the the Irani Trophy to be contested in mid-January, 2018.

Vijay Hazare Trophy

1. February 16, 2018, vs Vidarbha

2. February 17, 2018, vs Hyderabad

3. February 19, 2018, vs Services

4. February 22, 2018, vs Saurashtra

5. February 23, 2018, vs Chhattisgarh

6. February 25, 2018, vs Jammu & Kashmir (we just seem to keep running into them!)

The knock-out rounds will be played in March, 2018.