Two of India’s Test regulars opened the Ranji season badly: KL Rahul made 4 and 1, and Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a duck. New Zealand A await them in the India A squad, with the first game on 24 October, which leaves Round 2 (18 to 21 October) as the only domestic match in which to rediscover form. Other Test names have already delivered, which sharpens the contrast and raises the pressure on both as the tour approaches.
A Rough Start for the Big Names
Round 1 handed India’s established players very different outcomes. Ravindra Jadeja made 102 and took three wickets for Saurashtra, earning the match award, while Karun Nair finished unbeaten on 155 for Karnataka. Those two did their jobs. Their returns show that form is not a problem for every Test regular, only for some.
Mohammed Shami took 4/30 and one more wicket as Bengal won by nine wickets, and Mohammed Siraj went wicketless in one innings before taking 2/19 for Hyderabad. Rahul and Jaiswal sit at the bottom of that list.
Player | Team | Round 1 score | Recent red-ball form |
KL Rahul | Karnataka | 4 and 1 v Andhra | Century in last Test (6 June v Afghanistan); 4,153 runs at 36.42 in 68 Tests |
Yashasvi Jaiswal | Mumbai | 0 (13 balls) v Chandigarh | 28 Tests, 2,511 runs at 49.23 (to March); played the 6 June Test |
Mohammed Siraj | Hyderabad | 0 wickets, then 2/19 | None listed |
Ravindra Jadeja | Saurashtra | 102 and three wickets | Player of the Match |
Mohammed Shami | Bengal | 4/30 and 1 wicket | Bengal won by nine wickets |
Karun Nair | Karnataka | 155 not out | None listed |
Rahul and Jaiswal Under Pressure
Rahul carries the heavier burden. He fell cheaply in both innings for a Karnataka side whose top order was dismantled early by Andhra’s pacers. A man with a century in his last Test and 4,153 runs from 68 matches should not need to prove himself, but the timing is awkward.
Jaiswal’s duck came off 13 balls, yet it cost him little. Mumbai won by an innings plus 155 runs, so he never batted a second time. His Test record to March stands at 2,511 runs from 28 matches, averaging 49.23, and he played that 6 June Test. For selectors who prize availability, a single failure is not a verdict, but a second one would be hard to ignore.
Ranji Trophy 2026 India A Test players
The India A squad, named on 6 October, has Dhruv Jurel as captain and wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant also listed as a keeper, subject to fitness. The batting group adds Rahul, Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Sai Sudarsan and Yash Rathod. The bowlers and all-rounders are Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep and Washington Sundar.
The tour has three four-day games: 24 to 27 October at Lincoln, 31 October to 3 November in Christchurch and 7 to 10 November back at Lincoln. That schedule gives the returning Test names plenty of cricket, provided they arrive in form. The opening game comes only days after Round 2 ends, so there is little room for a slow start.
Jaiswal and the Gloves Question
Mumbai skipper Siddhesh Lad revealed that Jaiswal would like to take the gloves, either for Mumbai or later for India, though no decision has been made. Jaiswal has been spotted in a keeping drill at the Wankhede. Whether that ambition survives contact with selectors is another question.
Nothing suggests he kept in Round 1. Hardik Tamore and Akash Anand are Mumbai’s existing keepers, so any switch would be a deliberate selection call rather than a necessity. Keeping would also add flexibility to a squad that values it.
Round 2 Is the Last Audition
Mumbai travel to Dharamsala to face Himachal Pradesh from 18 to 21 October. Karnataka’s opponent in the same round could not be confirmed. Round 3, from 26 to 29 October, clashes with the tour, leaving selectors with just one more round to judge. Each match therefore matters more than usual for both players.
India’s Test squad for the New Zealand series has not been named. In the Ranji Trophy 2026 India A Test players picture, one round of cricket will settle the argument, and Rahul and Jaiswal need runs there to remove any doubt.
Which of Rahul and Jaiswal needs the Round 2 runs more? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many runs did KL Rahul score in Round 1?
He scored 4 in the first innings and 1 in the second. Andhra’s pace attack removed four Karnataka batters early, and Rahul could not steady the innings.
Is Yashasvi Jaiswal keeping wicket for Mumbai?
It has not been confirmed. He has been spotted in a keeping drill at the Wankhede, but nothing shows he kept wicket in the opening round, and Mumbai have other keepers.
When does India A play New Zealand A?
The first four-day match starts on 24 October. It runs to 27 October at Lincoln, with further games in Christchurch and then back at Lincoln later in the tour.
Which India Test players are in the Ranji Trophy?
Jadeja, Shami, Siraj, Rahul, Jaiswal, Sundar and Kamboj are among those playing. Jadeja scored 102 in Round 1 for Saurashtra and Shami took 4/30 for Bengal.
When is Round 2 of the Ranji Trophy?
It runs from 18 to 21 October. Mumbai faces Himachal Pradesh in Dharamsala that round, and it is the last domestic match before the India A series begins.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.