Ranji Trophy 2024: Jammu And Kashmir Announces Squad For Upcoming Season, Shubham Khajuria To Lead Team

The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) revealed the 15-member squad for the initial two matches of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Opening batter Shubham Khajuria will lead the Jammu and Kashmir squad in the upcoming domestic red-ball tournament.

The Ranji Trophy will feature two divisions, namely Elite and Plate, comprising four groups of eight teams in the Elite Division and one group of six teams in the Plate Division. The new edition is scheduled to kick off on January 25, 2024, with the final match on March 14, 2024.

Shubham Khajuria To Jammu And Kashmir In Ranji Trophy

The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association announced the team on December 30. The team faced disappointments in both the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. However, the selectors chose to retain all the players despite the team’s struggles.

Here’s the J&K Squad for #RanjiTrophy. Umran Malik returns from the injury, Nasir Lone earns maiden call-up pic.twitter.com/xb6WJZfJhZ

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) December 30, 2023

Shubham Khajuria will captain the team, and Umran Malik is set to return after recovering from an injury sustained during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Unfortunately, Rasikh Salam and Yudhvir Singh are reportedly sidelined due to injuries and are not included in the squad.

Flamboyant all-rounder Nasir Lone has received his inaugural call-up to the Ranji Trophy squad, while the rest of the team remains largely unchanged from the previous season. The sole omission from the squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season is Henan Malik.

Abhinav Puri is confirmed to be fit for participation in the red ball competition, contrary to earlier reports suggesting an injury. Additionally, Rohit Sharma has been included in the squad, and Waseem Bashir will serve as the 16th member, designated as a net bowler.

The Jammu and Kashmir team is set to kick off their Ranji Trophy campaign against Himachal Pradesh at the Hostel Ground in Jammu from January 5. Following that, the J&K team will take on the Delhi team in their second match at the same venue from January 12.

Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy Squad: Shubham Khajuria (Captain), Qamran Iqbal, Abhinav Puri, Vivrant Sharma, Abdul Samad, Shubham Singh Pundir, Fazil Rashid (wk), Musaif Aijaz, Abid Mushtaq, Sahil Lotra, Lone Nasir, Umran Malik, Umar Nazir, Auqib Nabi, Rohit Sharma

Note: Waseem Bashir will be a reserved player apart from these 15 players. (To be retained as net bowler).

Umran Malik Should Be Considered – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra criticized the fact that Malik was not even selected for the India A team after being in the national squad just three months ago.

“I feel he should be considered. You had kept him in the team until some time back. You had played him, it was either against the West Indies or Ireland. After that, he has been missing. You keep someone with so much love at one point and then suddenly missing, that’s not good,” Chopra said.

“Keep him in the scheme of things at least. In fact, he is not even being picked in the India A team. How can it happen that he was in the Indian team three months ago and now he is not even part of the India A team?”

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