Rajasthan Aim to End Back‑to‑Back Draws Against Uttarakhand in Upcoming Ranji Trophy Clash

Summary

Rajasthan, sitting fourth in Ranji Trophy Group D, will try to convert a first‑innings lead into a win when they face Uttarakhand in Dehradun on Monday. The side has two points from two draws and needs a bonus‑point victory to chase leaders Mumbai, Haryana and Tamil Nadu.

Match Details

• Competition: Ranji Trophy, Group D
• Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
• Date & Time: Monday (local time), start at 10:00 IST
• Format: Four‑day first‑class match

Recent Form

• Rajasthan earned first‑innings leads in both opening games, earning six points total.
• Draws against Tamil Nadu and Railways gave them three points each.
• Mumbai, Haryana and Tamil Nadu sit ahead with at least one outright win each.

Squad Changes

• Aniket Choudhary (right‑arm seamer) returns after missing the first two matches with a knee injury, adding experience to the pace attack.
• Akash Singh remains sidelined with a knee problem.
• Kartik Sharma continues as captain; Mahipal Lomror is listed as vice‑captain, though recent leadership reshuffles have sparked debate.
• Kunal Singh Rathore was named vice‑captain for the Railways match, replacing Lomror, and his status ahead of the Uttarakhand game is unclear.
• Mukul Choudhary, an IPL finisher, has been in and out of the squad, most recently dropped to the Under‑23 side.

Off‑field Controversy

Selection decisions have drawn criticism:

• The rapid promotion of 20‑year‑old Kartik Sharma to captaincy after Manav Suthar’s India A call‑up.
• The replacement of Mahipal Lomror as vice‑captain with Kunal Singh Rathore.
• Inconsistent handling of wicket‑keeper‑batter Mukul Choudhary, who was named, dropped, and shifted to the Under‑23 squad within days.

Implications

• A win would give Rajasthan a crucial bonus point, narrowing the gap to the table‑toppers.
• The returning seamer Aniket Choudhary could strengthen the bowling unit, especially on Dehradun’s seam‑friendly pitches.
• Ongoing selection debates may affect team morale; stability in the batting order and leadership could be decisive.

How to Verify

• Official Ranji Trophy schedule on the BCCI website.
• Team sheets released by the Rajasthan Cricket Association before the match.
• Live updates from reputable sports portals (e.g., ESPNcricinfo, Times of India) on match day.

--- *All information is based on the Times of India report dated 2024‑09‑02 and publicly available Ranji Trophy data.*