5 Ranji Trophy performers who are being ignored by selectors

Yuvraj Singh continues to be snubbed by selectorsRanji Trophy remains the most important marker of adjudging the quality of cricket in our country. Players for the national team are selected on the basis of the Ranji and more than once, good performances in the tournament have backed their ability while playing for the country.Also, with gruelling, round-the-year international cricket schedules, talented players lose their touch. It is again at the Ranji that they rejuvenate themselves to earn a call-back. Quite recently, Ravindra Jadeja had lost his place in the team due to a string of poor performances but has earned a Test call back against the Proteas for taking the most number of wickets so far in the ongoing Ranji series.While Jadeja’s performance could not be overlooked by the selectors, there are other players, who have been consistently doing well in the Ranji Trophy but are not featuring in the selector’s radar. Considering India’s poor bowling performance in the series against South Africa, some of these players could even act as replacements.Here is a list of five Ranji cricketers whose performances are being ignored by the Indian selectors:

#5 Shreyas Iyer (Mumbai)

Shreyas Iyer has been piling runs for two consecutive seasons

Shreyas Iyer is another batsman from Mumbai who is piling up runs almost at will. Mumbai is known best for producing legendary batters like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

This 20-year old dominated the 2014-15 Ranji season with stellar performances, finishing the tournament with 809 runs in 10 matches, averaging at 50.56 with two centuries. This year, the youngster has decided to better his previous scores and began with a bang. Four matches have been played whereIyer has scored a double ton against Punjab, 83 against Tamil Nadu and 173 against Baroda.Shreyas double century is the thirdfastest in the tournaments 82-year history. He got it in 175 balls.

The right handed batsman was alsoawarded the Emerging Player of Indian Premier League(IPL) 2015 playing for Delhi Daredevils.

With astounding statistics, this young Mumbaikar is someone to look out for.

#4 Rishi Dhawan (Himachal Pradesh)

Rishi Dhawan bowls and is a handy batsman in the lower order

Rishi Dhawan is not an outright fast bowler, hebowls at high 120s and low 130s. Very much like a Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rishi opens the bowling, and swing is his most potent weapon.

In the 2014-15 season of Indiaspremier domestic tournament, Dhawan played eight matches where he took 40 wickets at an average of 2.65. He is also a handy lower-order batsman who was averaging 57.40, scoring 287 runs.

However, inspite of being an all-rounder and good performances to back him, selectors are ignoring him. It could be because his profile is very similar to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar but after Bhuvis ever-increasing economy rate, maybe it is time to look at other options.

#3 Shardul Thakur (Mumbai)

Shardul Thakur could be the answer to Indias bowling woes

At 59,Shardul Thakurmay not be your typical fast bowler. He is not typically tall for a seamer and neither does he have a lean physique.However,give him a ball in hand and he can be more threatening than any other pacer. In the absence of an injured Zaheer Khan and Dhawal Kulkarni (who was on national duty), the 23-year-old had played the role of Mumbais leading bowler with aplomb during last season on the Ranji Trophy.

Just like Vinay Kumar, Thakur took 48 wickets in 10 matches at at economy rate on 2.90, finishing second on the list of highest wicket-takers. There has been no recognition of this talented pacer as of now but we hope that it comes soon.

#2 Vinay Kumar (Karnataka)

Vinay Kumar has been consistently grabbing wickets in the Ranji

Several cricket pundits have attributed Indias colossal failure at home against the Proteas to the lack of match-winning bowlers. The Indian pacers BhuvaneshwarKumar, Mohit Sharma have leaked runs while they seem to be struggling with either their swing or their line. In this scenario, Vinay Kumar could be someone who could add some experience and stability to an otherwise young pace attack.

Vinay Kumar was the highest wicket-taker in last years Ranji Trophy.He had claimed 48 wickets in 10 matches at a staggering economy rate of 2.71. He has been Karnatakas skipper, leading from the front and helping his side become the Champions. He alsobecame the first pacer from his state to reach the landmark of 300 Ranji Trophy wickets.

In 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, the 31-year oldcontinues to impress with his haul of 4 wickets for 80 runs against Bengal. However, Vinay Kumar continues being snubbed.

#1 Yuvraj Singh (Punjab)

Yuvis 187 against Gujarat was not enough to earn him a call-up

2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singhs exclusion from the 2015 World Cup had shocked the entire nation. Yes,he was recuperating from cancer and has not been the same but his consistent performance in the Ranji Trophy raised several eyebrows when he didnt make it to Australia.

Moreover, the 33-year oldhas hardly received a chance to prove himself post his comeback. He has been in and out of the team, having to vacate his berth for younger players. His last ODI appearance for India was during their abysmal series in South Africa in 2013, where the entire team failed to perform, not just him.

He was last seen in the Blues in the 2014 World Twenty20, where he performed decently, scoring a match-winning 60 off 43 balls against Australia.

After that, the selectors chose to ignore him. In the last Ranji season,he played seven matches and scored 671 runs at a very healthy average of 55.91.

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, Yuvraj Singhsmashed 14 fours and seven sixes in his innings of 187 off 233 balls, powering Punjabs massive victory against Gujarat. He is athletic, a very handy left-arm spinner. When India is desperately searching for a solid number five, we wonder why this flamboyant batsman is not getting a look-in?