Ranji Trophy: Jaiswal out for duck at Wankhede, Rahul dismissed for four in Vijayawada on opening day
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed cheaply on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 on Sunday, with Jaiswal out for a duck for Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium against Chandigarh and Rahul making four for Karnataka in Vijayawada against Andhra.
Jaiswal began the domestic season after being named in India's ODI squad for the West Indies series but did not feature in any of the three matches. He last appeared on India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, scoring 77 runs across three innings. Ahead of Mumbai's opening match he was seen keeping wickets during a practice game.
Rahul arrived in the Ranji Trophy after a strong showing in India's recent ODI series against the West Indies, where he scored an unbeaten century off 82 balls in his only innings as India won the series 2-1; it was his ninth hundred in the format. India captain Shubman Gill was absent from the opening round, missing Punjab's match against Assam in New Chandigarh. Gill could turn out for Punjab in their second fixture against Chhattisgarh, which begins on Sunday.
In Vijayawada pacers Kavuri Saiteja and KV Sasikanth struck early to leave last season's runners-up in trouble. Karnataka lost four early wickets and Rahul's dismissal in the fourth over increased the burden on the middle order. The early breakthroughs put the visitors on the back foot during the opening session.
Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off 13 balls while opening the batting for Mumbai against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said the opener could be aiming to take up wicketkeeping in future: "He wants to eventually, in future, keep wickets for maybe Mumbai or go on to keep wickets for the Indian team, is what he is aiming for. That is what I feel, but I haven't got any clarity on that," Lad told reporters on Thursday.
Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar were among other players with international experience featuring in the opening round. Rahul, Jaiswal, Washington and Devdutt Padikkal are among 11 Test players named in India's 15-member squad for the three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand A.
The India A series against New Zealand A is scheduled to begin on October 24, with the first match in Lincoln from October 24 to 28, the second in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3, and the final match in Lincoln from November 7 to 10. India's ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4, with the next two matches scheduled for November 7 and 10, and the overlapping fixtures could limit the availability of Rahul, Jaiswal and Washington for the India A series if they are required for the senior team.
