Shubman Gill made a commendable return to the Ranji Trophy, scoring an impressive century under challenging circumstances, which significantly contributed to Punjab's resurgence against Karnataka. The 25-year-old batsman had faced difficulties during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, leading to scrutiny regarding his capabilities in red-ball cricket. However, he effectively silenced his detractors by achieving a robust century on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka.

Following a disheartening first innings where Punjab was dismissed for a mere 55 runs, the team once again faced adversity against the Karnataka bowlers. Nevertheless, Shubman remained steadfast, guiding the innings forward. He fought valiantly, reaching his century off 159 deliveries, which included 14 boundaries and three sixes.

Although Shubman typically occupies the number 3 position for India in Test matches, he returned to the opening role for Punjab in this Ranji encounter. Previously, during the West Indies tour last year, he had relinquished his opening position to Yashasvi Jaiswal. While he initially struggled to adapt to the number 3 slot, his performance during the Australia tour was disappointing, culminating in his omission from the Melbourne Test.

In the first innings, Gill, who captained Punjab, was dismissed for just four runs after being caught behind. However, he took charge in the second innings, maintaining his composure when other batsmen faltered. He formed a crucial 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket with tailender Mayank Markande, enabling Punjab to surpass the 150-run threshold.

Shubman and Jadeja only star players to perform well

Shubman and Jadeja were the only prominent players to excel in this round of the Ranji Trophy, as other senior Indian players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma, struggled to make a significant impact with the bat.

Ravindra Jadeja demonstrated his exceptional skill with the ball, taking 12 wickets for Saurashtra, which significantly contributed to their victory over Delhi. His performance included impressive figures of 5/66 in the first innings and 7/38 in the second. Conversely, star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant struggled to make an impact for Delhi upon his return to the Ranji Trophy, scoring just 1 and 17 in the two innings.

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