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Ranji Trophy: Jaiswal gets duck, Rahul falls cheaply as India Test stars struggle

India’s Test batting stars faced early struggles in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season opener, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for a golden duck in just 13 balls while opening for Mumbai against Chandigarh at Wankhede Stadium. His early exit marked a disappointing start to his domestic campaign, coming just days after his inclusion in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series, though he did not feature in any of the matches.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul managed only four runs for Karnataka against Andhra in Vijayawada, as the visitors lost four early wickets and found themselves in trouble after his dismissal in the fourth over. The pace attack of Kavuri Saiteja and KV Sasikanth proved too sharp for Karnataka’s top order, leaving their middle-order batsmen with a challenging task ahead.

Rahul’s poor start contrasts sharply with his recent form in ODIs, where he scored an unbeaten century against the West Indies. His Ranji Trophy appearance follows a strong series, where he became only the ninth player to reach nine ODI hundreds.

Meanwhile, Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad hinted at Jaiswal’s potential future role as a wicketkeeper, though no official confirmation has been made. India’s other Test stars, including Shubman Gill, missed the opening round due to international commitments, with Gill potentially returning for Punjab’s second fixture against Chhattisgarh.

The tournament also features international players like Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Manav Suthar in the opening round, while India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand A includes several Ranji Trophy participants.

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