Ishan Kishan will return to Jharkhand's Ranji Team after missing the 2023-24 season. He will be back to lead the side after last leading it in 2018-19. Their previous season's skipper, Virat Singh, has been named as Kishan's deputy. Saurabh Tiwary led them in their last match after which he retired.

Kishan recently featured in the Irani Cup for the Rest of India against Mumbai, where he scored 38 runs off 60 balls in his only innings. He didn't keep the wickets as Dhruv Jurel did the job for the Rest of India. Well, Kishan won't keep the wickets for Jharkhand as well because Kumar Kushagra is their designated wicketkeeper. Before the Irani Cup, Kishan featured in the Duleep Trophy as he played two matches for the India C side which also marked his return to domestic first-class cricket after December 2022.

During this period, Ishan Kishan lost his central BCCI contract with Shreyas Iyer, as the BCCI statement said that all athletes should give preference to domestic cricket when they are not part of the national team.

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Kumar Kushagra and Anukul Roy have been included in Jharkhand's 16-member squad for the first two games. They will begin their campaign against Assam, in Guwahati in the Elite Group D fixture. Last season, Jharkhand ended up third from the bottom in Group A, winning two, losing two, and drawing three of their seven matches.

Jharkhand Selection Committee Chairman about squad selection

Selection Committee Chairman Subroto Das said, "Ishan Kishan is an experienced player as he has international experience. We have picked a very young team. Saurabh Tiwary, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Varun Aaron had all retired after last season so we had to rethink our strategy. Ishan is capable of leading this young side and we're confident of doing well this Ranji season."

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Jharkhand squad for Ranji trophy (first two matches)

Ishan Kishan (captain), Virat Singh (vice-captain), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nazim Siddique, Aryaman Sen, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Suraj, Anukul Roy, Utkarsh Singh, Supriyo Chakraborty, Saurabh Shekhar, Vikas Kumar, Vivekanand Tiwary, Manishi, Ravi Kumar Yadav, Raunak Kumar

Former Indian cricketer Shahbaz Nadeem has bid farewell to his illustrious 20-year career in Indian cricket, retiring from all formats of the game. The left-arm spinner expressed his desire to explore opportunities in various domestic leagues worldwide following his exit from the Indian cricket scene.

“After much contemplation, I’ve decided to retire from all three formats of the game. While I’ve always strived to stay motivated and perform at my best, I realize that my chances in the Indian team are slim. It’s only fair that I pave the way for younger talent,” Nadeem shared with ESPNcricinfo.

End of an Era: Shahbaz Nadeem Bids Adieu to Indian Cricket

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He also took to social media to formally announce his retirement. Nadeem’s last appearance in competitive cricket was during Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy 2024 clash against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur, where he showcased his prowess with both bat and ball.

Throughout his career, Nadeem accumulated impressive statistics, claiming 542 wickets in first-class cricket, 175 in List A matches, and 125 in T20s. His notable performances include 32 five-wicket hauls, 33 four-wicket hauls, and 7 ten-wicket hauls.

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Nadeem’s journey in international cricket began in 2019 when he received his Test cap from Virat Kohli during India’s match against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Despite playing only two Tests, he managed to secure eight wickets.

Additionally, Nadeem showcased his talent in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing teams such as Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants, amassing 48 wickets across 72 matches with an economy rate of 7.56.