The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy could be the stage these three batters need to force their way back into India's Test plans.
The 92nd edition of the Ranji Trophy got underway on October 11, 2026, with 38 teams and 19 first-round matches being played across India. The tournament will feature 138 matches in total, split across two phases around the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, with the first leg running until November 5 and the second leg starting January 17, 2027.
For several experienced batters, this season represents a genuine opportunity to remind the national selectors of their quality. Three players in particular carry the form, the pedigree and the motivation to push for a return to India's Test setup after a productive Ranji campaign.
Here are 3 forgotten batters who can return to Indian team with Ranji performances:
3. Abhimanyu Easwaran (Bengal)
Abhimanyu Easwaran is one of the most consistent batters in domestic cricket and has been a regular run-scorer for Bengal over many seasons. The right-handed opener, born on September 6, 1995, was part of India's Test squad under head coach Gautam Gambhir but never received a debut cap and was subsequently left out of national reckoning. He has also led India A and India B in the Duleep Trophy, underlining his standing in the country's red-ball structure.
His most recent notable outing came in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final for East Zone against South Zone, where he scored 72 in the first innings. Bengal named him captain for the 2026-27 season, with Sudip Kumar Gharami as vice-captain, and their opening match is against Delhi from October 11 to 14 at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani. Bengal reached the semi-finals in the previous Ranji Trophy season before losing to eventual champions Jammu and Kashmir. A strong run this season could put Easwaran firmly back in the selectors' thoughts.