Ranji Trophy | Jadeja and Pant take centre-stage as Saurashtra hosts Delhi

Back to the grind: Pant hasn’t played a Ranji game since leading Delhi in the final of the 2017/18 season.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

“Idhar hi daalte rehna (Keep bowling at this spot).”

Rishabh Pant’s chirpy voice could be heard aloud at the practice facility inside the Niranjan Shah Stadium as he went about instructing Delhi’s spinners on the ideal length to target during a net session on a balmy Wednesday morning.

Not far away from the Delhi nets where Pant was batting, Ravindra Jadeja, in a black t-shirt and trousers because his training kit hadn’t arrived, was probing as usual while bowling to the Saurashtra batters.

Saurashtra’s Ravindra Jadeja during the net practice session ahead of the Ranji Trophy match between Saurashtra and Delhi at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday January 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI

Among those facing Jadeja was Cheteshwar Pujara, whose most striking association with Pant was when India pulled off a heist in Brisbane in 2021.

You would have to cast your memory back to the distant past to remember a round of matches in the Ranji Trophy when it was graced with as much star power.

Saurashtra’s Cheteshwar Pujara during the net practice session ahead of the Ranji Trophy match between Saurashtra and Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI

But following the BCCI’s advisory that India players must participate in domestic cricket when available, most of the top stars will turn out for their State teams in the matches beginning on Thursday.

Here in Rajkot, Jadeja and Pant, who were part of India’s Test series in Australia, will be in opposite camps as Saurashtra takes on Delhi in a Group-D battle.

Though Pant didn’t look at his fluent best against the tweakers, he was in an upbeat mood right through. After completing his batting stint, he went on to have a chat with Arpit Rana and Sanat Sangwan, seemingly passing on batting tips that these youngsters will hold onto dearly. The 27-year-old then proceeded to do catching drills before taking it easy and obliging a few onlookers with selfies and photographs.

Pant hasn’t played a Ranji game since leading Delhi in the final of the 2017/18 season against Vidarbha. It goes without saying that he will be crucial for the visitor in this fixture, more so given his prowess against spin on a surface that is expected to turn from day one.

Saurashtra, which is fifth in the group, needs outright wins in its remaining two games in Rajkot to have a shot at the knockouts. Delhi is third.

“We need outright wins. You can’t expect green seaming tracks in Rajkot,” Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat quipped. “So the only way to do it is by having some help for spinners”.