Ranji Trophy 2016-17 Best XI of the season

International cricket often bags all the limelight. Very rarely do the domestic tournaments get in the picture. The Ranji Trophy 2016-17 came to an end recently. The tournament season this year was one of the most spectacular ones in the recent history. The underdogs made big names and many players came to the fore on the occasion. At the end, it was Gujarat and defending champions Mumbai who made it to the finals of the tournament.

Gujarat, under the able leadership of Parthiv Patel, lifted the Ranji Trophy 2016-17. Records tumbled in the Indian domestic season this year. Triple centuries were scored this season and double centuries came at will. A record stand between Swapnil Gugale and Ankeet Bawne of Maharashtra caught the eyes of all. Delhi’s Rishabh Pant rose to prominence with his consistent batting. He scored the fastest ton in Ranji Trophy history. His heroics earned him a national cap.

A clinical Jharkhand side created history by reaching the semi-finals of the season. They saw all players chip in with crucial contributions in the domestic season. Gujarat made it to the finals of the elite trophy after almost 5 decades. The performers have been many. Here we pick the Ranji Trophy Best XI of 2016-17 season, a list full of emerging stars of Indian cricket:

Priyank Panchal (Gujarat)

Gujarat’s batsman Priyank Panchal is just 26 but is still a domestic veteran. He made the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season his own with consistent batting. Panchal emerged as the leading run-getter of the season at the conclusion of the league stage. The story did not change at the end of the season either. He amassed 1037 runs in just 7 matches at a staggering average of 115.22 in the league stage with 4 tons and 3 fifties. He was the key to Gujarat’s claim in the playoffs berth.

By the end of the season, he had amassed 1310 runs in 10 matches at 87.33 with 5 tons to his name and 4 fifties. He started off with a gritty 101 against Railways this season. As the tournament progressed, his scores got bigger and better. He backed up his 232 against Mumbai with an unbeaten 56 in the same match. A match later, he found himself scoring a majestic unbeaten 314 against Punjab. His fourth ton of the season came against Tamil Nadu in the last league game. He then belted his last ton of the season against Odisha in the semis.

Also read- Ranji Trophy 2016-17 – Statistical Highlights