The upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy is expected to be a historic one in many respects. With the BCCI making the decision to play all matches at neutral venues, it is most certainly expected that this edition of India’s oldest domestic tournament will be the most competitive of the lot. Moreover, with the pink ball also in the fray of getting the nod soon, the Ranji Trophy could not have been in a better phase.

However, the only blemish as far as the tournament is concerned would be the fact that it is not telecast on television. Star Networks Pvt Ltd, the short sponsor for the BCCI as well as the official broadcaster of most of the matches involving the Indian cricket team has taken the executive decision not to telecast India’s premier tournament courtesy of the hectic international schedule.

In spite of that, the main aim of the Board would be to unearth players for the future. However, with many players having already played for India in the past, the newly composed Indian selection panel will be hoping to re-find those players once again. That said, here are ten players who have played for India and will be the ones to watch out for in the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournament.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88233"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" alt=" Parvez-Rasool" width="600" height="444" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88233" class="wp-caption-text">Parvez Rasool, the first cricketer to be selected in the India squad from Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo by Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)</figcaption>

27-year old Parvez Rasool has been on the fringes of the Indian team for the better part of four years now. An all-rounder, who can smack the ball many a mile as well as a bowler who can deceive a batsman with his fantastic change of pace, it is quite shocking that Rasool is not a prominent part of the Indian team on a regular basis.

Rasool made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2014 where he bowled 10 overs and picked two wickets. Despite being picked in the squad quite often, he has either been overlooked or has not been given a chance to showcase his talents on the international stage just yet. The most inspiring aspect of Rasool is that he is one of the few supremely talented cricketers from the war-torn Kashmir area, something that has been quite an inspiration to many.

In the context of his first-class cricket, Rasool is one match shy of completing 50 matches. However, in spite of the lesser number of matches comparatively, Rasool’s impact is quite big. He boasts of 2714 runs along with 118 wickets, one of the few players in the domestic circuit to achieve this incredible feat.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-69521"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

At 27, Dhawal Kulkarni is a supremely important member of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad. Although Kulkarni does not boast of terrifying pace, one thing he does have is the ability to bowl accurately and get the ball to move in both directions. His 200 plus wickets in first-class cricket tell an astounding tale of his talent with the new ball especially.

The 27-year old made his ODI debut in unchartered territory in Edgbaston all those years ago in the fall of 2014. In spite of his obvious talent, Kulkarni has been quite unsuccessful in cementing a place in the squad. Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that the pacers in the Indian squad are supremely talented and settled in their current roles.

Needless to say, Kulkarni is a fantastic player when it comes to bowling in the difficult conditions of the Indian wickets. In 70 matches, the 27-year old has 210 wickets, something that has been amassed over a period of 5 to 6 extremely productive years with the ball. He will be raring to go in the upcoming tournament and make a case for his selection in the Test side as well.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/01/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-9273"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9273" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ranji Trophy" width="600" height="425" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-9273" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: PTI)</figcaption>

When it comes to limited-overs’ cricket, Mohit Sharma is perhaps one of the most bankable bowlers in the country. However, when it comes to playing the longer format of the game, it seems quite clear that Mohit has a lot of work to do. With playing Test cricket for India one of the main things for Mohit Sharma, being an important member of the Haryana side will be important in terms of catching the selector’s eye.

Having burst onto the scene in 2011-12, Mohit Sharma has now returned as Haryana’s skipper for the upcoming season. Moreover, the 28-year old has quite a bit of international experience under his belt having plied his trade for India in the past. In 26 ODIs, Mohit has amassed 31 wickets, a fantastic start for a pacer.

Mohit also boasts of a slower delivery, something that he had worked on in the Indian Premier League and something that requires extreme amounts of skill to pull off. However, his numbers in the domestic scene do not add up as he boasts of just 95 wickets in 30 first-class matches, something he will be hoping to improve upon in the coming months.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-52159"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-52159" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh" width="640" height="433" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-52159" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

At 34, Yuvraj Singh, once the apple of the eye for many Indian fans across the country has now seemingly fallen out of favor with the selectors. While age is one factor in the equation, it is clear that the southpaw has not been in the best of form since his comeback from the life-threatening illness he suffered in the fall of 2011.

While this has taken a toll on his fitness, Yuvraj has impressed of late with the bat with some spectacular performances in the Duleep Trophy. While some question his performances in Tests, Yuvraj has one of the better figures in first-class cricket compared to some of the other players in the country. In 128 first-class matches, he boasts of 8000 plus runs and 161 wickets.

Although one may well think that it is a bit too late to recall Yuvraj back into the team, it may still be possible that the newly appointed selection team calls for one last hurrah for the all-rounder who has given Indian cricket so much in the past.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-83781"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-83781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" alt="Abhinav Mukund" width="600" height="406" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83781" class="wp-caption-text">Abhinav Mukund. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

When Abhinav Mukund made his debut for India, he was a 21-year old hell bent on following the so-called ‘Virender Sehwag’ route to greatness. If a bowler was in his face, he wanted to smack him to the fence with immediate effect. However, with time, the 26-year old has become a much more mature batsman, someone willing to play the patient game.

Mukund’s watershed came in the Duleep Trophy where he stood out as a batsman when the rest of the batters were succumbing to the movement of the pink ball. His first class average is also on the brink of touching the 48 mark, something that is excellent for an opening batsman.

Having played his final Test for India at Trent Bridge, Mukund will be hoping to make his way back into the side after almost a 2-year hiatus from the XI. Hopefully, some of his fluency will return and he will find himself back in contention for the opening slot in the Indian Test team.

The Australian summer of 2003 had a particular significance when 19-year old Irfan Pathan burst onto the scene. Boasting of vicious swing and terrifying pace, Pathan made life absolutely terrible for the Australians in their own backyard. His batting abilities were also shown soon after and he became one of India’s premier all-rounders after that.

Having played 120 ODIs and 29 Tests since then, Pathan was one of the most important members of the Indian squad until his axing in early 2009. With bad form and a significant drop in pace one of the reasons for the same, the southpaw has found himself once again in the labyrinth of the domestic circuit of Indian cricket.

However, in spite of this, Pathan has a supremely impressive first-class record. For someone who bats as low as he does, nearing 4000 runs is impressive. To go with that, Irfan also has 352 wickets. Needless to say, he will be leading Baroda in the upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Sanju-Samson.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-70266"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70266" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson" width="600" height="417" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70266" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

At the age of 21, Sanju Samson is already tipped for greatness. When Wriddhiman Saha hangs up his boots in a few years’ time, it will be Samson who will be the custodian for the Indian team. Although most of his exploits have come in the T20I format in the IPL, Samson has the strokes and the temperament to make it to the Test side.

Unlike many 21-year olds in the Ranji Trophy, Samson has a few impressive stats and records to his name. In the 30 matches he has featured in thus far, Samson has amassed 1641 runs, something that is bound to increase in the few years to come.

That said, the Indian selectors at the moment will have their eyes fixated on Samson in a bid to formally and slowly induct him into the Indian team. He will also be looking to dethrone Wriddhiman Saha and become India’s premier wicketkeeper in the years to come.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66754"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66754" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya IPL 2016" width="600" height="404" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66754" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

Another player who is cut from the same cloth as Sanju Samson is Hardik Pandya. A genuine all-rounder, Pandya first made his name with the Mumbai Indians when he emerged as one of the hard-hitters in the side as well as an important pacer. He entered the Indian side as a T20I specialist in the 3-0 whitewash against Australia down under before becoming a part of the Indian side in the World T20.

However, in spite of all this, consistency is perhaps one of the biggest problems in Pandya’s game. While he certainly has the shots to make an impact, consistency is a problem. In 15 first-class matches thus far, Pandya has managed just 680 runs and 21 wickets, something that will have to improve should he want to be considered for selection.

Of late, Pandya has shown flashes of brilliance in the recently concluded tour of Australia with the India ‘A’ squad. His final innings saw him smash 79 runs in what turned out to be an unfortunate loss for the Indians. This was his first half-century in almost 10 innings.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-85619"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-85619" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="600" height="404" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85619" class="wp-caption-text">India&#8217;s Harbhajan Singh. (Photo by MAL FAIRCLOUGH/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

36-year old Harbhajan Singh is very much a prominent part of the Dad’s Army when it comes to selection for the Indian cricket team. At his age, it is clear that he is well and truly in the twilight of his career.

However, when compared to the likes of Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, and even Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh has the best chance to make a comeback to the side. Better yet, Bhajji has the best chance in spite of the presence of the likes of players such as Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Yet, he has been somewhat overlooked since the conclusion of the World T20 in March.

In spite of the presence of the likes of Ravi Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh remains to be one of India’s most successful off-spinners of all time. While he has 417 international Test wickets and 777 first-class wickets, his passion is more than enough to justify his importance in Indian cricket at the moment.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/08/Karun-Nair.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29060"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29060" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="337" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29060" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Of the new wave of Indian batsmen, Karun Nair is one of the handfuls of blokes who boasts of consistency and deft touch. Evidence of the same can be found in his exploits in the Ranji Trophy including a massive 328 in 2015 final of the tournament. Apart from that, his 25 First-class matches have seen him amass slightly over two and a half thousand runs.

Nair opened the batting for India along with his state-mate KL Rahul in two of the three ODIs in the West Indies. He has also been called up to the Test team on a few occasions when there have been injuries to the likes of Murali Vijay, and more recently, Shikhar Dhawan. However, despite this, Nair has never been handed a Test debut as of yet.

<h6><strong>Also read &#8211; <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/anil-kumble-calls-sehwag-best-twitter-user-among-cricketers/" target="_blank">Anil Kumble calls Sehwag the best Twitter user among cricketers</a></strong></h6>

Moreover, Nair is one of those players who is a typical ‘modern day’ player who can seamlessly switch between different formats of the game and be highly successful. This will be a massive incentive for the selectors when they assemble a team for different formats of the game.

<p>The upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy is expected to be a historic one in many respects. With the BCCI making the decision to play all matches at neutral venues, it is most certainly expected that this edition of India’s oldest domestic tournament will be the most competitive of the lot. Moreover, with the pink ball also in the fray of getting the nod soon, the Ranji Trophy could not have been in a better phase.</p>
<p>However, the only blemish as far as the tournament is concerned would be the fact that it is not telecast on television. Star Networks Pvt Ltd, the short sponsor for the BCCI as well as the official broadcaster of most of the matches involving the Indian cricket team has taken the executive decision not to telecast India’s premier tournament courtesy of the hectic international schedule.</p>
<p>In spite of that, the main aim of the Board would be to unearth players for the future. However, with many players having already played for India in the past, the newly composed Indian selection panel will be hoping to re-find those players once again. That said, here are ten players who have played for India and will be the ones to watch out for in the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournament.</p>
<h4><strong>1. Parvez Rasool</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88233" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88233" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88233"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-88233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" alt=" Parvez-Rasool" width="600" height="444" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88233" class="wp-caption-text">Parvez Rasool, the first cricketer to be selected in the India squad from Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo by Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>27-year old Parvez Rasool has been on the fringes of the Indian team for the better part of four years now. An all-rounder, who can smack the ball many a mile as well as a bowler who can deceive a batsman with his fantastic change of pace, it is quite shocking that Rasool is not a prominent part of the Indian team on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Rasool made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2014 where he bowled 10 overs and picked two wickets. Despite being picked in the squad quite often, he has either been overlooked or has not been given a chance to showcase his talents on the international stage just yet. The most inspiring aspect of Rasool is that he is one of the few supremely talented cricketers from the war-torn Kashmir area, something that has been quite an inspiration to many.</p>
<p>In the context of his first-class cricket, Rasool is one match shy of completing 50 matches. However, in spite of the lesser number of matches comparatively, Rasool’s impact is quite big. He boasts of 2714 runs along with 118 wickets, one of the few players in the domestic circuit to achieve this incredible feat.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Dhawal Kulkarni</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_69521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-69521"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At 27, Dhawal Kulkarni is a supremely important member of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad. Although Kulkarni does not boast of terrifying pace, one thing he does have is the ability to bowl accurately and get the ball to move in both directions. His 200 plus wickets in first-class cricket tell an astounding tale of his talent with the new ball especially.</p>
<p>The 27-year old made his ODI debut in unchartered territory in Edgbaston all those years ago in the fall of 2014. In spite of his obvious talent, Kulkarni has been quite unsuccessful in cementing a place in the squad. Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that the pacers in the Indian squad are supremely talented and settled in their current roles.</p>
<p>Needless to say, Kulkarni is a fantastic player when it comes to bowling in the difficult conditions of the Indian wickets. In 70 matches, the 27-year old has 210 wickets, something that has been amassed over a period of 5 to 6 extremely productive years with the ball. He will be raring to go in the upcoming tournament and make a case for his selection in the Test side as well.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Mohit Sharma</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_9273" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9273" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/01/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-9273"><amp-img class="wp-image-9273" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ranji Trophy" width="600" height="425" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-9273" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: PTI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>When it comes to limited-overs’ cricket, Mohit Sharma is perhaps one of the most bankable bowlers in the country. However, when it comes to playing the longer format of the game, it seems quite clear that Mohit has a lot of work to do. With playing Test cricket for India one of the main things for Mohit Sharma, being an important member of the Haryana side will be important in terms of catching the selector’s eye.</p>
<p>Having burst onto the scene in 2011-12, Mohit Sharma has now returned as Haryana’s skipper for the upcoming season. Moreover, the 28-year old has quite a bit of international experience under his belt having plied his trade for India in the past. In 26 ODIs, Mohit has amassed 31 wickets, a fantastic start for a pacer.</p>
<p>Mohit also boasts of a slower delivery, something that he had worked on in the Indian Premier League and something that requires extreme amounts of skill to pull off. However, his numbers in the domestic scene do not add up as he boasts of just 95 wickets in 30 first-class matches, something he will be hoping to improve upon in the coming months.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Yuvraj Singh</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_52159" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-52159" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-52159"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-52159" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh" width="640" height="433" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-52159" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At 34, Yuvraj Singh, once the apple of the eye for many Indian fans across the country has now seemingly fallen out of favor with the selectors. While age is one factor in the equation, it is clear that the southpaw has not been in the best of form since his comeback from the life-threatening illness he suffered in the fall of 2011.</p>
<p>While this has taken a toll on his fitness, Yuvraj has impressed of late with the bat with some spectacular performances in the Duleep Trophy. While some question his performances in Tests, Yuvraj has one of the better figures in first-class cricket compared to some of the other players in the country. In 128 first-class matches, he boasts of 8000 plus runs and 161 wickets.</p>
<p>Although one may well think that it is a bit too late to recall Yuvraj back into the team, it may still be possible that the newly appointed selection team calls for one last hurrah for the all-rounder who has given Indian cricket so much in the past.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Abhinav Mukund</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_83781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-83781" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-83781"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-83781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" alt="Abhinav Mukund" width="600" height="406" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83781" class="wp-caption-text">Abhinav Mukund. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>When Abhinav Mukund made his debut for India, he was a 21-year old hell bent on following the so-called ‘Virender Sehwag’ route to greatness. If a bowler was in his face, he wanted to smack him to the fence with immediate effect. However, with time, the 26-year old has become a much more mature batsman, someone willing to play the patient game.</p>
<p>Mukund’s watershed came in the Duleep Trophy where he stood out as a batsman when the rest of the batters were succumbing to the movement of the pink ball. His first class average is also on the brink of touching the 48 mark, something that is excellent for an opening batsman.</p>
<p>Having played his final Test for India at Trent Bridge, Mukund will be hoping to make his way back into the side after almost a 2-year hiatus from the XI. Hopefully, some of his fluency will return and he will find himself back in contention for the opening slot in the Indian Test team.</p>
<h4><strong>6. Irfan Pathan</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/09/Irfan-Pathan-during-a-Ranji-match-at-Mysuru.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-33547"><amp-img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33547" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Irfan-Pathan-during-a-Ranji-match-at-Mysuru-1024x768.jpg" alt="Irfan Pathan" width="640" height="480" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a></p>
<p>The Australian summer of 2003 had a particular significance when 19-year old Irfan Pathan burst onto the scene. Boasting of vicious swing and terrifying pace, Pathan made life absolutely terrible for the Australians in their own backyard. His batting abilities were also shown soon after and he became one of India’s premier all-rounders after that.</p>
<p>Having played 120 ODIs and 29 Tests since then, Pathan was one of the most important members of the Indian squad until his axing in early 2009. With bad form and a significant drop in pace one of the reasons for the same, the southpaw has found himself once again in the labyrinth of the domestic circuit of Indian cricket.</p>
<p>However, in spite of this, Pathan has a supremely impressive first-class record. For someone who bats as low as he does, nearing 4000 runs is impressive. To go with that, Irfan also has 352 wickets. Needless to say, he will be leading Baroda in the upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy.</p>
<h4><strong>7. Sanju Samson</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_70266" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70266" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Sanju-Samson.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-70266"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-70266" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson" width="600" height="417" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70266" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At the age of 21, Sanju Samson is already tipped for greatness. When Wriddhiman Saha hangs up his boots in a few years’ time, it will be Samson who will be the custodian for the Indian team. Although most of his exploits have come in the T20I format in the IPL, Samson has the strokes and the temperament to make it to the Test side.</p>
<p>Unlike many 21-year olds in the Ranji Trophy, Samson has a few impressive stats and records to his name. In the 30 matches he has featured in thus far, Samson has amassed 1641 runs, something that is bound to increase in the few years to come.</p>
<p>That said, the Indian selectors at the moment will have their eyes fixated on Samson in a bid to formally and slowly induct him into the Indian team. He will also be looking to dethrone Wriddhiman Saha and become India’s premier wicketkeeper in the years to come.</p>
<h4><strong>8. Hardik Pandya</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_66754" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66754" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66754"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-66754" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya IPL 2016" width="600" height="404" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66754" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another player who is cut from the same cloth as Sanju Samson is Hardik Pandya. A genuine all-rounder, Pandya first made his name with the Mumbai Indians when he emerged as one of the hard-hitters in the side as well as an important pacer. He entered the Indian side as a T20I specialist in the 3-0 whitewash against Australia down under before becoming a part of the Indian side in the World T20.</p>
<p>However, in spite of all this, consistency is perhaps one of the biggest problems in Pandya’s game. While he certainly has the shots to make an impact, consistency is a problem. In 15 first-class matches thus far, Pandya has managed just 680 runs and 21 wickets, something that will have to improve should he want to be considered for selection.</p>
<p>Of late, Pandya has shown flashes of brilliance in the recently concluded tour of Australia with the India ‘A’ squad. His final innings saw him smash 79 runs in what turned out to be an unfortunate loss for the Indians. This was his first half-century in almost 10 innings.</p>
<h4><strong>9. Harbhajan Singh</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_85619" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85619" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-85619"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-85619" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="600" height="404" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85619" class="wp-caption-text">India’s Harbhajan Singh. (Photo by MAL FAIRCLOUGH/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>36-year old Harbhajan Singh is very much a prominent part of the Dad’s Army when it comes to selection for the Indian cricket team. At his age, it is clear that he is well and truly in the twilight of his career.</p>
<p>However, when compared to the likes of Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, and even Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh has the best chance to make a comeback to the side. Better yet, Bhajji has the best chance in spite of the presence of the likes of players such as Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Yet, he has been somewhat overlooked since the conclusion of the World T20 in March.</p>
<p>In spite of the presence of the likes of Ravi Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh remains to be one of India’s most successful off-spinners of all time. While he has 417 international Test wickets and 777 first-class wickets, his passion is more than enough to justify his importance in Indian cricket at the moment.</p>
<h4><strong>10. Karun Nair &nbsp;</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_29060" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29060" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/08/Karun-Nair.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29060"><amp-img class="wp-image-29060" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="337" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29060" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Of the new wave of Indian batsmen, Karun Nair is one of the handfuls of blokes who boasts of consistency and deft touch. Evidence of the same can be found in his exploits in the Ranji Trophy including a massive 328 in 2015 final of the tournament. Apart from that, his 25 First-class matches have seen him amass slightly over two and a half thousand runs.</p>
<p>Nair opened the batting for India along with his state-mate KL Rahul in two of the three ODIs in the West Indies. He has also been called up to the Test team on a few occasions when there have been injuries to the likes of Murali Vijay, and more recently, Shikhar Dhawan. However, despite this, Nair has never been handed a Test debut as of yet.</p>
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<h6><strong>Also read –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/anil-kumble-calls-sehwag-best-twitter-user-among-cricketers/" target="_blank">Anil Kumble calls Sehwag the best Twitter user among cricketers</a></strong></h6>
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<p>Moreover, Nair is one of those players who is a typical ‘modern day’ player who can seamlessly switch between different formats of the game and be highly successful. This will be a massive incentive for the selectors when they assemble a team for different formats of the game.</p>

<p>The upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy is expected to be a historic one in many respects. With the BCCI making the decision to play all matches at neutral venues, it is most certainly expected that this edition of India’s oldest domestic tournament will be the most competitive of the lot. Moreover, with the pink ball also in the fray of getting the nod soon, the Ranji Trophy could not have been in a better phase.</p>
<p>However, the only blemish as far as the tournament is concerned would be the fact that it is not telecast on television. Star Networks Pvt Ltd, the short sponsor for the BCCI as well as the official broadcaster of most of the matches involving the Indian cricket team has taken the executive decision not to telecast India’s premier tournament courtesy of the hectic international schedule.</p>
<p>In spite of that, the main aim of the Board would be to unearth players for the future. However, with many players having already played for India in the past, the newly composed Indian selection panel will be hoping to re-find those players once again. That said, here are ten players who have played for India and will be the ones to watch out for in the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournament.</p>
<h4><strong>1. Parvez Rasool</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88233" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88233" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88233"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88233" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Parvez-Rasool.jpg" alt=" Parvez-Rasool" width="600" height="444" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88233" class="wp-caption-text">Parvez Rasool, the first cricketer to be selected in the India squad from Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo by Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>27-year old Parvez Rasool has been on the fringes of the Indian team for the better part of four years now. An all-rounder, who can smack the ball many a mile as well as a bowler who can deceive a batsman with his fantastic change of pace, it is quite shocking that Rasool is not a prominent part of the Indian team on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Rasool made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2014 where he bowled 10 overs and picked two wickets. Despite being picked in the squad quite often, he has either been overlooked or has not been given a chance to showcase his talents on the international stage just yet. The most inspiring aspect of Rasool is that he is one of the few supremely talented cricketers from the war-torn Kashmir area, something that has been quite an inspiration to many.</p>
<p>In the context of his first-class cricket, Rasool is one match shy of completing 50 matches. However, in spite of the lesser number of matches comparatively, Rasool’s impact is quite big. He boasts of 2714 runs along with 118 wickets, one of the few players in the domestic circuit to achieve this incredible feat.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Dhawal Kulkarni</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_69521" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69521" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-69521"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-69521" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dhawal-Kulkarni.jpg" alt="Dhawal Kulkarni IPL 2016" width="600" height="419" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At 27, Dhawal Kulkarni is a supremely important member of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad. Although Kulkarni does not boast of terrifying pace, one thing he does have is the ability to bowl accurately and get the ball to move in both directions. His 200 plus wickets in first-class cricket tell an astounding tale of his talent with the new ball especially.</p>
<p>The 27-year old made his ODI debut in unchartered territory in Edgbaston all those years ago in the fall of 2014. In spite of his obvious talent, Kulkarni has been quite unsuccessful in cementing a place in the squad. Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that the pacers in the Indian squad are supremely talented and settled in their current roles.</p>
<p>Needless to say, Kulkarni is a fantastic player when it comes to bowling in the difficult conditions of the Indian wickets. In 70 matches, the 27-year old has 210 wickets, something that has been amassed over a period of 5 to 6 extremely productive years with the ball. He will be raring to go in the upcoming tournament and make a case for his selection in the Test side as well.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Mohit Sharma</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_9273" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9273" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/01/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" rel="attachment wp-att-9273"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9273" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohit-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ranji Trophy" width="600" height="425" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-9273" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: PTI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>When it comes to limited-overs’ cricket, Mohit Sharma is perhaps one of the most bankable bowlers in the country. However, when it comes to playing the longer format of the game, it seems quite clear that Mohit has a lot of work to do. With playing Test cricket for India one of the main things for Mohit Sharma, being an important member of the Haryana side will be important in terms of catching the selector’s eye.</p>
<p>Having burst onto the scene in 2011-12, Mohit Sharma has now returned as Haryana’s skipper for the upcoming season. Moreover, the 28-year old has quite a bit of international experience under his belt having plied his trade for India in the past. In 26 ODIs, Mohit has amassed 31 wickets, a fantastic start for a pacer.</p>
<p>Mohit also boasts of a slower delivery, something that he had worked on in the Indian Premier League and something that requires extreme amounts of skill to pull off. However, his numbers in the domestic scene do not add up as he boasts of just 95 wickets in 30 first-class matches, something he will be hoping to improve upon in the coming months.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Yuvraj Singh</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_52159" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-52159" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/12/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-52159"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-52159" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-Practice.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh" width="640" height="433" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-52159" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At 34, Yuvraj Singh, once the apple of the eye for many Indian fans across the country has now seemingly fallen out of favor with the selectors. While age is one factor in the equation, it is clear that the southpaw has not been in the best of form since his comeback from the life-threatening illness he suffered in the fall of 2011.</p>
<p>While this has taken a toll on his fitness, Yuvraj has impressed of late with the bat with some spectacular performances in the Duleep Trophy. While some question his performances in Tests, Yuvraj has one of the better figures in first-class cricket compared to some of the other players in the country. In 128 first-class matches, he boasts of 8000 plus runs and 161 wickets.</p>
<p>Although one may well think that it is a bit too late to recall Yuvraj back into the team, it may still be possible that the newly appointed selection team calls for one last hurrah for the all-rounder who has given Indian cricket so much in the past.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Abhinav Mukund</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_83781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-83781" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-83781"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-83781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Abhinav-Mukund.jpg" alt="Abhinav Mukund" width="600" height="406" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-83781" class="wp-caption-text">Abhinav Mukund. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>When Abhinav Mukund made his debut for India, he was a 21-year old hell bent on following the so-called ‘Virender Sehwag’ route to greatness. If a bowler was in his face, he wanted to smack him to the fence with immediate effect. However, with time, the 26-year old has become a much more mature batsman, someone willing to play the patient game.</p>
<p>Mukund’s watershed came in the Duleep Trophy where he stood out as a batsman when the rest of the batters were succumbing to the movement of the pink ball. His first class average is also on the brink of touching the 48 mark, something that is excellent for an opening batsman.</p>
<p>Having played his final Test for India at Trent Bridge, Mukund will be hoping to make his way back into the side after almost a 2-year hiatus from the XI. Hopefully, some of his fluency will return and he will find himself back in contention for the opening slot in the Indian Test team.</p>
<h4><strong>6. Irfan Pathan</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/09/Irfan-Pathan-during-a-Ranji-match-at-Mysuru.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-33547"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-33547" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Irfan-Pathan-during-a-Ranji-match-at-Mysuru-1024x768.jpg" alt="Irfan Pathan" width="640" height="480"></a></p>
<p>The Australian summer of 2003 had a particular significance when 19-year old Irfan Pathan burst onto the scene. Boasting of vicious swing and terrifying pace, Pathan made life absolutely terrible for the Australians in their own backyard. His batting abilities were also shown soon after and he became one of India’s premier all-rounders after that.</p>
<p>Having played 120 ODIs and 29 Tests since then, Pathan was one of the most important members of the Indian squad until his axing in early 2009. With bad form and a significant drop in pace one of the reasons for the same, the southpaw has found himself once again in the labyrinth of the domestic circuit of Indian cricket.</p>
<p>However, in spite of this, Pathan has a supremely impressive first-class record. For someone who bats as low as he does, nearing 4000 runs is impressive. To go with that, Irfan also has 352 wickets. Needless to say, he will be leading Baroda in the upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy.</p>
<h4><strong>7. Sanju Samson</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_70266" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70266" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Sanju-Samson.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-70266"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-70266" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson" width="600" height="417" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70266" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>At the age of 21, Sanju Samson is already tipped for greatness. When Wriddhiman Saha hangs up his boots in a few years’ time, it will be Samson who will be the custodian for the Indian team. Although most of his exploits have come in the T20I format in the IPL, Samson has the strokes and the temperament to make it to the Test side.</p>
<p>Unlike many 21-year olds in the Ranji Trophy, Samson has a few impressive stats and records to his name. In the 30 matches he has featured in thus far, Samson has amassed 1641 runs, something that is bound to increase in the few years to come.</p>
<p>That said, the Indian selectors at the moment will have their eyes fixated on Samson in a bid to formally and slowly induct him into the Indian team. He will also be looking to dethrone Wriddhiman Saha and become India’s premier wicketkeeper in the years to come.</p>
<h4><strong>8. Hardik Pandya</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_66754" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66754" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66754"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66754" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya IPL 2016" width="600" height="404" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66754" class="wp-caption-text">Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another player who is cut from the same cloth as Sanju Samson is Hardik Pandya. A genuine all-rounder, Pandya first made his name with the Mumbai Indians when he emerged as one of the hard-hitters in the side as well as an important pacer. He entered the Indian side as a T20I specialist in the 3-0 whitewash against Australia down under before becoming a part of the Indian side in the World T20.</p>
<p>However, in spite of all this, consistency is perhaps one of the biggest problems in Pandya’s game. While he certainly has the shots to make an impact, consistency is a problem. In 15 first-class matches thus far, Pandya has managed just 680 runs and 21 wickets, something that will have to improve should he want to be considered for selection.</p>
<p>Of late, Pandya has shown flashes of brilliance in the recently concluded tour of Australia with the India ‘A’ squad. His final innings saw him smash 79 runs in what turned out to be an unfortunate loss for the Indians. This was his first half-century in almost 10 innings.</p>
<h4><strong>9. Harbhajan Singh</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_85619" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85619" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/09/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-85619"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-85619" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh-1.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="600" height="404" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85619" class="wp-caption-text">India&#8217;s Harbhajan Singh. (Photo by MAL FAIRCLOUGH/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>36-year old Harbhajan Singh is very much a prominent part of the Dad’s Army when it comes to selection for the Indian cricket team. At his age, it is clear that he is well and truly in the twilight of his career.</p>
<p>However, when compared to the likes of Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, and even Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh has the best chance to make a comeback to the side. Better yet, Bhajji has the best chance in spite of the presence of the likes of players such as Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Yet, he has been somewhat overlooked since the conclusion of the World T20 in March.</p>
<p>In spite of the presence of the likes of Ravi Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh remains to be one of India’s most successful off-spinners of all time. While he has 417 international Test wickets and 777 first-class wickets, his passion is more than enough to justify his importance in Indian cricket at the moment.</p>
<h4><strong>10. Karun Nair  </strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_29060" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29060" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/08/Karun-Nair.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29060"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29060" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="337" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29060" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Of the new wave of Indian batsmen, Karun Nair is one of the handfuls of blokes who boasts of consistency and deft touch. Evidence of the same can be found in his exploits in the Ranji Trophy including a massive 328 in 2015 final of the tournament. Apart from that, his 25 First-class matches have seen him amass slightly over two and a half thousand runs.</p>
<p>Nair opened the batting for India along with his state-mate KL Rahul in two of the three ODIs in the West Indies. He has also been called up to the Test team on a few occasions when there have been injuries to the likes of Murali Vijay, and more recently, Shikhar Dhawan. However, despite this, Nair has never been handed a Test debut as of yet.</p>
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<p>Moreover, Nair is one of those players who is a typical ‘modern day’ player who can seamlessly switch between different formats of the game and be highly successful. This will be a massive incentive for the selectors when they assemble a team for different formats of the game.</p>

10 International Players to watch out for in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy season

The upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy is expected to be a historic one in many respects. With the BCCI making the decision to play all matches at neutral