The 91st edition of the Ranji Trophy has begun, but the opening day proved disastrous for two cricketers seeking to revive their careers: Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan. Both batsmen were dismissed for ducks in their respective matches, a setback despite their efforts to prepare for the season.
Prithvi Shaw, who recently moved to Maharashtra from Mumbai, had a debut to forget. Shaw, known for his aggressive batting, was out for a four-ball duck against Kerala at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. He edged a fuller delivery from MD Nidheesh, which seamed back and trapped him leg before wicket. This occurred after Shaw had sought a No-Objection Certificate from the Mumbai Cricket Association to play for Maharashtra. Before the season, Shaw shared an Instagram post of him performing prayers, but his efforts did not translate on the field. Maharashtra was left reeling at 5/4 early in their innings.
Despite the disappointing start, Shaw had shown promise earlier in the domestic season. He made his first appearance for Maharashtra in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, scoring 111, 1, and 66. He followed this with a knock of 181 against his former team, Mumbai, in a three-day practice match. However, this performance was overshadowed by a heated argument with Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz’s brother, though Shaw later apologized.
Sarfaraz Khan, returning from a quadriceps injury and a snub from the Test squad against the West Indies, also failed to make an impact. Promoted to open for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, he was dismissed for a three-ball duck by Auqib Nabi. Mumbai chose to have Sarfaraz Khan open in place of Prithvi Shaw.
These failures highlight the unpredictable nature of cricket, where past performances and preparations don't guarantee success. For both Shaw and Sarfaraz, this is a significant setback as they aim to regain favor with the national selectors. This season is structured in two phases, with the first phase from October 15-18 and November 16-19, before the teams break for limited-overs events and then reconvene on January 22, 2026, with the final to begin on February 24, 2026.
The Ranji Trophy continues with other players like Mohammed Shami, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Karun Nair participating.
