With the Ranji Trophy set to resume, many regular Test players from the Indian team are finally returning to the country’s top domestic tournament, giving fans more reasons to pay attention to first-class cricket. 

This development follows the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s recent decision, which mandates that players not engaged in international matches or sidelined by injury must compete for their state teams. As a result, several senior players are making their comeback to the domestic scene after a long absence. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, among others, faced significant criticism for not participating in first-class matches. While Kohli won’t be playing in the upcoming game, he has reportedly confirmed that he will be available for Delhi’s next match against Railways.

Let’s check out the Test regulars who’ll be playing in the next round of matches in the Ranji Trophy.

Ravindra Jadeja – Saurashtra

The experienced all-rounder has been a crucial part of India’s Test squad. However, as he ages, concerns about his long-term performance have begun to surface. He has not appeared to be at his peak, especially in the field, due to ongoing injury issues. Jadeja will be eager to prove himself in all areas of the game when Saurashtra faces Delhi at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

Rishabh Pant – Delhi

Rishabh Pant, India’s primary wicketkeeper-batter in Test cricket, has stood out amidst a lackluster batting display from the Indian middle order. While many of his teammates will feel the pressure to score significant runs, Pant is determined to exhibit his aggressive style and aims to achieve a substantial score when Delhi takes on Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

Rohit Sharma – Mumbai  

The upcoming series of domestic matches will be crucial for the Indian captain to demonstrate that he has overcome his batting difficulties. Since the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian opener has been struggling with his performance, failing to make an impact against New Zealand at home and Australia away. Frustrated with his lack of runs, he even chose to sit out the 5th Test in Sydney. The match against Jammu and Kashmir might be the opportunity he needs to regain his form.

Shubman Gill – Punjab 

The 25-year-old batter has recently been appointed vice-captain of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad. However, he has faced challenges in scoring significant runs for the national team lately, and it remains uncertain whether participating in first-class cricket will help him find his rhythm again. Punjab is set to encounter a challenging match against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Yashasvi Jaiswal – Mumbai  

The young opening batter has really shown his potential in Test matches with the national team, especially with his standout performance against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He’ll be aiming to solidify his position at the top of the batting order by putting up a big score when Mumbai faces off against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy.