The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Round 3, amid the departures of the high-profile players ahead of the New Zealand Tests, began on Monday, October 26, and it included some key results and memorable performances as India’s domestic season is well underway after the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup, followed by the initial rounds of the ongoing competition.
Heavyweight teams like Mumbai and Bengal racked up some dominant wins to continue their brilliant start to the season. The former secured a 10-wicket win over Haryana on their home turf, while the latter recorded a thumping 287-run win over Kerala, away from home.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir’s struggling start to the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season continued as they settled for a draw against Baroda as their winless run continues.
On that note, let us take a look at the top five performers in Round 3 of Ranji Trophy 2026-27.
#1 Ayush Badoni
The in-form Delhi captain, Ayush Badoni, came into the round with 325 runs from three innings: 23 and 85 in the defeat to Bengal at Kalyani, then 217 off 246 balls against Gujarat in a draw. He stepped up for the side again when Delhi slid to 181 for 5 in the drawn clash against Jharkhand in Ranchi.
He scored an unbeaten 210 from 228 deliveries with 19 fours and three sixes, recording his second double hundred in a row in the process. The right-handed batter put on an unbeaten partnership of 334 for the sixth wicket in 452 balls with Sumit Mathur before Delhi declared on 515 for 5. Jharkhand closed day two on 131 for 4.
Ayush Badoni became only the third Delhi batter with double centuries in successive first-class innings, after Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, and the 21st player to do it in Indian domestic cricket.
#2 Saransh Jain
After not being included in the squad for the New Zealand tour following his debut in New Zealand, Saransh Jain had a rough return to domestic cricket with some bleak outings. However, he had a statement performance in Madhya Pradesh’s mammoth win over Bihar.
Saransh Jain’s first innings at the Holkar Stadium in Indore brought 7 for 40, his 11th five-wicket haul and the spell that took him to 200 first-class wickets. Bihar were bowled out for just 99, and Madhya Pradesh replied with 407 for 8 declared, claiming a massive lead in the process.
Saransh Jain took 6 for 49 in the second innings as Bihar were dismissed for 134, finishing with 13 for 89, one of his best career displays, guiding Madhya Pradesh to a win by an innings and 174 runs inside two days.
#3 Salil Arora
Punjab’s wicket-keeper batter arrived for the clash against Hyderabad with two consecutive centuries in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 competition after tons against Assam and Chhattisgarh. He converted his start from day one into 151 from 268 balls, his fourth and highest first-class score, with 11 fours and four sixes.
Veteran pacer Umesh Yadav was involved with Salil Arora for a massive 116-run partnership for the tenth wicket, allowing the batter to get to the three-figure mark and also carrying Punjab to 431 after the first innings.
Although Salil Arora recorded an 11-ball duck in the second innings in the drawn clash, he was adjudged player of the match in the end.
#4 Shahbaz Ahmed
The Bengal all-rounder came into the contest with a solid bowling outing against Services, but a dismal set of outings with the bat.
Shahbaz Ahmed played a key role in Bengal’s innings after they were in a precarious position at 108-5. He and Sumanta Gupta added 103 for the seventh wicket, taking the score close to the 300-run mark. He eventually finished with 121 from 203 balls, his third first-class century. Reprieved on 91 at long-on, he reached the hundred by lifting Aditya Sarvate over long-off, and 59 more with Pradipta Pramanik took Bengal to 350.
With the ball, he gave spearhead Mohammed Shami some much-needed support, with tight figures of 8-1-8-2 as he accounted for the wickets of Sachin Baby and Aditya Sarvate as Kerala slipped to 101 for 6 in the first innings. Bengal eventually went on to win by 287 runs, a third victory in three games, with Shahbaz finishing with four wickets in the match.
#5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored his maiden Ranji Trophy century after he came into Mumbai’s top order devoid of the departed Yashasvi Jaiswal and the injured Ayush Mhatre. The youngster recently returned to competitive cricket after recovering from a finger injury and concussion he sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Mumbai were put into bat first at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground and struck early when Divyansh Saxena fell for 10. Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan then added 208 for the second wicket in 324 balls, Musheer making 109, while Raghuvanshi went on to reach the three-figure mark for the first time to help the team post 430 in the first innings.
The wicket-keeper batter also struck a quickfire 67 off 39 in the paltry run chase on the final day to seal Mumbai’s 10-wicket win.
Round 3 finished on Thursday, October 29. The fourth round is set to begin on Monday, November 2.
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Edited by Gokul Nair
