Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Saurashtra announce squad, Jaydev Unadkat to lead side

The Saurashtra Cricket Association have announced a 15-member squad for the 2024-25 season of India's premier domestic red-ball competition, the Ranji Trophy. Veteran left-arm medium pacer, Jaydev Unadkat, is primed to lead the side with his eyes being set on bringing added glory to the side after their first two titles which came in the 2019-20 and 2022-23 editions of the tournament, respectively.

Another notable seasoned campaigner, Cheteshwar Pujara, has been included in what will be his 20th season in the Ranji Trophy. Pujara, who used to be a guaranteed pick in the Indian Test squad, has been out of contention from the national setup post last representing India in the World Test Championship final in 2023. He would be aiming to rack up substantial runs under his belt to not only help his state's batting order but put himself back in the reckoning and maybe make his way into the squad for the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The wicketkeeping slots have been filled by the up-and-coming Harvik Desai, the ever-reliable and proficient Sheldon Jackson, and Tarang Gohel, who is yet to make his first-class debut. Chirag Jani and Prerak Mankad entail the core all-rounders of the squad and will be heavily depended upon by Saurashtra to come good, much like the past so many seasons of them functioning the best when operated as a pair.

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One of six bowlers who secured a tally of 41 wickets during the previous edition of the Ranji Trophy, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, will lead the spin-bowling attack. Dharmendrasinh, interestingly sharing the same surname as fellow statesman and ace all-rounder for India, Ravindra Jadeja, is a left-arm orthodox himself.

Saurashtra will take on Tamil Nadu Coimbatore in their first Group D encounter of the season.

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Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Squad: Jaydev Unadkat (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Harvik Desai (wk), Sheldon Jackson (wk), Tarang Gohel (wk), Arpit Vasavada, Chirag Jani, Prerak Mankad, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya, D. Jadeja, Parth Bhut, Vishvaraj Jadeja, Hiten Kanbi, Navneet Vora, Parswaraj Rana.