Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Rinku Singh and Shikhar Mohan hit centuries as Shami takes four wickets
Ranji Trophy 2026-27 first day highlights: Rinku Singh and Shikhar Mohan delivered impressive centuries, Mohammed Shami picked up four wickets for Bengal, and another cricketer named Rohit Sharma claimed a five-wicket haul for defending champions Jammu and Kashmir. However, India’s Test batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul endured disappointing starts as the new domestic first-class season began on October 11.
The opening round of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season produced plenty of talking points across the country. While established international players struggled to make an impact, several domestic performers grabbed the opportunity to put their names in the spotlight.
With 19 matches scheduled in the opening round, the tournament has once again provided a platform for experienced campaigners and emerging talents to make their case for bigger opportunities. The first day’s action offered a mixture of batting setbacks, impressive individual performances and disciplined bowling spells.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fail to deliver
India’s Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a difficult start to Mumbai’s opening-round match against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. The left-handed batter faced 13 deliveries but was dismissed for a duck, leaving Mumbai without the early contribution they would have wanted from one of their leading players.
KL Rahul also struggled in Karnataka’s match against Andhra Pradesh. Opening the innings, Rahul scored just four runs from 11 deliveries, including one boundary, before returning to the pavilion.
Both players will be keen to spend more time at the crease in the remaining innings. Domestic cricket offers an important opportunity for international players to regain their rhythm, particularly when competition for places in India’s Test side remains strong.
Sarfaraz Khan also failed to make a substantial contribution for Mumbai, scoring just one run from six deliveries. His younger brother Musheer Khan, however, provided some encouragement with a valuable 65-run innings.
The contrasting performances underlined how quickly fortunes can change in first-class cricket. Even established batters can find themselves under pressure when bowlers exploit the conditions early in an innings.
Mohammed Shami takes four wickets against Delhi
Mohammed Shami was among the biggest performers of the opening day, producing an impressive spell for Bengal against Delhi at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.
The experienced fast bowler finished with four wickets for 30 runs from 17.3 overs, helping Bengal dismiss Delhi for 240. His performance was particularly encouraging for a bowler whose experience and ability to generate movement make him an important option in red-ball cricket.
Shami’s control, accuracy and ability to trouble batters made a difference as Delhi struggled to build a commanding first-innings total. His spell also demonstrated the value of experience in a competition where patience and consistency often determine the outcome.
Bengal received further support from off-spinner Aamir Gani, who claimed three wickets, while India pacer Akash Deep picked up two. The combined effort ensured that Delhi could not capitalise on its opportunities with the bat.
For Shami, the performance was a timely reminder of his quality in the longer format. Consistent performances in domestic cricket can strengthen a player’s case for future selection, although one impressive outing alone does not guarantee an international recall.
Mohammed Siraj goes wicketless as Hyderabad bowlers respond
Mohammed Siraj experienced a quieter opening day while leading Hyderabad against Tripura. Making his first appearance as Hyderabad’s captain in the Ranji Trophy, the fast bowler finished his nine overs without taking a wicket, conceding 25 runs.
Although Siraj could not make a breakthrough, Hyderabad found a match-winning contribution from left-arm spinner Gangam Aniket Reddy, who claimed five wickets for 21 runs in seven overs.
His spell helped Hyderabad restrict Tripura to 134, giving the team a strong opportunity to take control of the contest.
Siraj’s performance was in sharp contrast to Shami’s display for Bengal. However, first-class cricket is a long-format competition in which bowlers can have different levels of success depending on the pitch, conditions and opposition.
The five-wicket haul from Aniket Reddy was an important positive for Hyderabad and highlighted the depth of bowling talent available in India’s domestic circuit.
Shikhar Mohan scores 143 for Jharkhand
Young Jharkhand batter Shikhar Mohan continued his impressive run of performances with a superb century against Kerala.
Mohan scored 143 from 196 deliveries, striking 18 fours and two sixes. His innings helped Jharkhand reach 289 for five at the close of the opening day, putting the side in a promising position.
The young batter has attracted attention through his performances in domestic cricket. His earlier double century in the Ranji Trophy, followed by an 85-run innings on his Duleep Trophy debut for East Zone and a half-century-plus contribution in the Irani Cup, had already placed him among the names to watch.
His latest innings showed his ability to spend time at the crease and convert a good start into a substantial score.
For Jharkhand, Mohan’s contribution was particularly valuable because a century in the first innings can provide the foundation for a competitive total. The team will look to build on that platform when play resumes, while Kerala will need early wickets to prevent the hosts from moving towards a commanding score.
Rohit Sharma takes five wickets for Jammu and Kashmir
Another standout performance came from Rohit Sharma, the fast bowler representing defending champions Jammu and Kashmir against Madhya Pradesh.
This is a different Rohit Sharma from former India captain Rohit Sharma, who has retired from Test cricket.
The Jammu and Kashmir bowler delivered an excellent spell, taking five wickets for 36 runs in 21.2 overs. His performance helped restrict Madhya Pradesh to 196, putting the defending champions in a strong position.
Rohit’s victims included Harsh Gawli, Himanshu Mantri, Chanchal Rathod, Atharva Mahajan and captain Shubham Sharma.
His disciplined bowling was one of the most notable individual performances of the opening day. For Jammu and Kashmir, who entered the season as defending champions after winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title, getting early control over the opposition was an encouraging start to their campaign.
Rinku Singh hits a century against Bihar
Rinku Singh made an immediate impact for Uttar Pradesh against Bihar, scoring a century to help his side finish the first day in a commanding position.
The left-handed batter remained unbeaten on 109 from 164 deliveries, hitting eight fours and three sixes. His innings came after opener Madhav Kaushik produced an equally important contribution, finishing unbeaten on 124 from 252 balls, with five fours and three sixes.
Together, the two batters gave Uttar Pradesh the stability needed to build a substantial first-innings total. The team ended the day at 287 for three, leaving Bihar with plenty of work to do when play resumes.
Rinku’s performance is particularly noteworthy because he is widely recognised for his aggressive batting in limited-overs cricket. A strong showing in red-ball cricket provides another opportunity to demonstrate his ability to adapt his game to different formats.
Bihar, meanwhile, will need to find a way to break the partnership and prevent Uttar Pradesh from pushing beyond 350. The absence of teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is another talking point, as he is occupied with India’s T20 commitments against West Indies.
What the opening day tells us about the Ranji Trophy season
The first day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season offered an early reminder of why domestic cricket remains important to Indian cricket.
Shami’s four-wicket haul and Rohit Sharma’s five-wicket performance demonstrated the impact experienced bowlers can make, while Mohan and Rinku showed how substantial innings can change the direction of a match.
At the same time, the early dismissals of Jaiswal, Rahul and Sarfaraz showed that reputations count for little once a first-class match begins.
There is still plenty of cricket to be played, and the opening-day scores will need to be converted into strong team performances over the coming days. The next innings will be crucial in determining which sides can turn promising starts into victories.
Stay tuned to ROKOCRICKET for the latest Ranji Trophy 2026-27 news, match highlights, player performances and updates from India’s domestic cricket season. Subscribe and share your thoughts: which player impressed you the most on the opening day — Rinku Singh, Shikhar Mohan or Mohammed Shami?
