Ishan Kishan’s return to red-ball cricket made headlines as the Jharkhand skipper smashed a commanding 173 against Tamil Nadu, helping his side post 419 in their Ranji Trophy Group A clash on Thursday. Kishan, who has been out of favour with the national selectors in recent months, produced a spirited performance after Jharkhand had slumped to 157 for six on the opening day. His knock, studded with 15 fours and six sixes, came off 247 deliveries before debutant RS Ambrish dismissed him short of a double hundred. Kishan’s innings not only rescued Jharkhand from a precarious position but also shifted momentum firmly in their favour.

The revival was built on a massive 214-run seventh-wicket partnership between Kishan and Sahil Raj, who provided crucial lower-order support. For Tamil Nadu, left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 71 runs in 27 overs, while DT Chandrasekar and Jeganathan Hemchudeshan bagged two apiece. However, Tamil Nadu’s batting collapsed spectacularly in reply, reeling at 18 for five by stumps. Debutant Jatin Pandey impressed with three wickets, while Sahil Raj added another scalp, leaving the hosts trailing by 401 runs on a rain-hit day in Chennai.

In another Group D fixture in Delhi, young opener Sanat Sangwan (211 not out) and debutant Ayush Doseja (209) struck double centuries to propel Delhi to a massive 529 for four declared against Hyderabad. The duo added a monumental 319-run stand for the fourth wicket after Delhi had stumbled to 113 for three. Sangwan displayed remarkable patience in his 470-ball innings, while Doseja played aggressively, hitting 25 fours and five sixes. Hyderabad, led by Tilak Varma, responded solidly to reach 77 for one at stumps, with opener Tanmay Agarwal unbeaten on 27.

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Meanwhile, in Srinagar, veteran batter Paras Dogra showcased his enduring class with an unbeaten 112 for Jammu and Kashmir in their Group D encounter against Mumbai. Despite Dogra’s resistance, the visitors remained in control after posting 386, thanks to a five-wicket haul from Yudhvir Singh (5/96). J&K finished the day at 273 for seven, still trailing by 113 runs, as Mumbai looked poised for a first-innings lead. The combination of Kishan’s comeback tonne, Delhi’s double hundreds, and Dogra’s veteran brilliance marked a thrilling day across the Ranji circuit.

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