Top-performers from the Ranji Trophy 2021/22: RCB edition

After a rollicking contest that lit up the Indian domestic scene for a couple of months, Madhya Pradesh would eventually walk away as the winners in the grand finale of the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy with their batters putting up a showdown for the ages. Spearheaded by Rajat Patidar, their batting displayed some serious heat from the top-order that made them thoroughly deserving of the elite domestic title.

However, it wasn’t just Rajat Patidar who would shine in the Ranji Trophy from the ranks of the Royal Challengers as Shahbaz Ahmed and Akash Deep would play a crucial role in propelling Bengal to the semi-finals where they would crash out against the eventual winners of the tournament.

It was a season to remember for the three Royal Challengers who would feature in the final four with the crown being lifted by our Mr. Dependable at the number three position, Rajat Patidar. Let us quickly take a look at the contributions of the three most influential Challengers in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy.

1.    Rajat Patidar

Patidar would finish as the highest-scorer for Madhya Pradesh and would also be the second-highest scorer in the tournament. He would be a part of 6 games, piling up 658 runs at a stunning average of 82.25 from 9 innings. He would also score 2 blistering centuries, coupling them with 5 half-centuries. He would smack a fine 142 as his tournament highest.

2.    Shahbaz Ahmed

The Bengal all-rounder played an elemental role in shaping the fortunes of the side in the face of sheer catastrophes. From a herculean rescue act in the tournament opener to a single-handed battle in the semis, the all-rounder found himself in sublime form. He would finish the campaign with 482 runs at a sturdy average of 60.25 which also included his maiden domestic century. It just wasn’t the bat that he would shine with. He would also rack up 20 wickets that featured a fifer too.

3.    Akash Deep

The Bengal fast bowler wasn’t as fluent as the other two but definitely grabbed a few eyeballs with his extraordinary bowling in patches. He would eventually finish his tally with a haul of 13 wickets at an average of 30.92. He would also go onto score the fastest half-century in the first innings of a Ranji Trophy game ever, smashing an 18-ball 53.