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Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Kerala aims to begin red-ball turnaround with trip to Jharkhand

Kerala cricket is targeting a strong start to its Ranji Trophy 2026-27 campaign with a trip to Jharkhand, aiming to reverse a disappointing fifth-place finish in last season’s tournament after reaching the final in 2024-25. The team, led by coach Swapnil Asnodkar, returns with key bowlers Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate bolstering their attack, while experienced batter Sachin Baby will look to anchor the middle order alongside emerging talents like Rohan Kunnummal and Vishnu Vinod.

Jharkhand, who advanced to the quarterfinals last year, will host the match at Keenan Stadium, a venue with a storied history including Viv Richards’ iconic 1983 ODI century and Sourav Ganguly’s 2000 hundred. With both sides missing key players—Kerala’s lineup lacks consistency from younger batsmen, while Jharkhand will play without Kumar Kushagra and Anukul Roy—the clash sets the stage for a competitive opener in a group featuring Delhi, Bengal, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

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