Ranji Trophy 2018-19: 5 Standout Performances by Northeast Players
None of the six new Northeast teams qualified for the knockouts, but some players from these squads stood out.
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Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim – six teams from the Northeast made their Ranji Trophy debut during the ongoing 2018-19 season. All of them were placed in the Plate Group, along with the other new teams – Uttarakhand, Bihar and Puducherry – out of which just one could make it to the next stage.
That team was Uttarakhand. And though none of the new Northeast teams proceeded to the knock-out round, cricketers from some of these squads delivered standout performances in the 8 matches they played. Most of these cricketers, were however professionals, sourced in from other state teams.
In a season that saw a record 37 teams participating in the first-class cricket tournament, here’s a look at 5 players from the Northeast teams that stood out.
Milind Kumar
Till February 2018, he was playing for Delhi. But after being ignored by the selectors in his hometown, 27-year-old Milind Kumar decided to join Sikkim ahead of the Ranji season.
The right-hand batsman smashed a 261 against Manipur in his first match for Sikkim, and followed it up with another double century in the next game against Nagaland.
He accumulated a massive total of 1,331 runs, which included six hundreds and four half-centuries in 8 matches – becoming the second highest run-scorer in a Ranji Trophy season after VVS Laxman's aggregate of 1,415 runs in 1999-2000.
Puneet Bisht
After four half-centuries and a score of 154 in his first seven games, Meghalaya’s wicketkeeper-batsman Puneet Bisht finished off the season with 343 against Sikkim – setting the record for the highest score by a designated wicketkeeper in the Ranji Trophy.
Along with opener Raj Biswa, the 32-year-old stitched a 433-run stand in the same game – the fourth-highest third wicket stand in the Ranji Trophy.
Another cricketer originally from Delhi, Bisht's aggregate of 892 runs for Meghalaya was also the highest aggregate for runs scored by a wicketkeeper in a Ranji Trophy season.
Gurinder Singh
From his home team Punjab to Tripura in 2016, Gurinder Singh joined Meghalaya ahead of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. After 8 matches, the 26-year-old all-rounder was the second highest wicket-taker with 53 scalps at an average of 16.92 and economy rate of 2.53.
He returned with 5 fifers, and a 10-wicket haul including a match haul of 11/56 against Mizoram.
Gurinder also scored a total of 569 runs this season, which included two centuries and a score of 99.
Ishwar Chaudhary
One of the three cricketers transferred to Sikkim’s team after CoA’s approval was bowler Ishwar Chaudhary. And he made the move worth it. The 30-year-old bowler from Gujarat picked up 51 wickets in the league stage – the third-highest after 8 matches.
Chaudhary, who made his first-class debut in 2008, picked up 5 fifers and returned with 10-wicket hauls on two occasions this season.
Yogesh Nagar
Another Delhi cricketer who moved out in search of better opportunities, and more chances to feature in the playing eleven, was Yogesh Nagar.
The 29-year-old all-rounder who has played for Delhi Daredevils in the past, joined Meghalaya for the 2018-19 season of the Ranji Trophy, and scored 865 runs in the 8 matches he played.
Nagar smashed four centuries and three half-centuries, which included scores of 141*, 144, 148 and 166.