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Mumbai's star opener, Prithvi Shaw, showcased explosive batting in the Ranji Trophy on Friday, February 9th. Playing against Chhattisgarh in the Elite Group-B, Shaw crafted a remarkable century, scoring 159 runs off 185 balls before getting out. This innings marked a significant achievement as Shaw became the first batsman in Indian first-class cricket to score centuries in both sessions of a day in the same match. His earlier feat was against Assam in January 2023.
Shaw's prolific century came even before lunch, setting a new record for being the first batsman in Indian cricket history to achieve this milestone in the first session of a match. Despite being out of the Indian Test team due to fitness and performance concerns, Shaw continues to make headlines with his exceptional performances in domestic cricket. His last Test match for India was against Australia in December 2020.
In the same round of Ranji Trophy matches, veteran batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and rising talent Devdutt Padikkal also notched up centuries for their respective teams. Pujara, playing for Saurashtra against Rajasthan, claimed his 62nd first-class century, solidifying his comeback with consistent batting performances. After being dropped from the Indian team following the World Test Championship last year, Pujara has been striving for a return, and his recent centuries hint at a promising comeback.
Pujara's century played a crucial role in Saurashtra posting 242 runs for the loss of four wickets on the first day against Rajasthan. Sheldon Jackson contributed with 78 runs, while other batsmen like Ravindra Jadeja and Harvik Desai made modest contributions before getting out. The team will look to build on this foundation in the upcoming days.
Devdutt Padikkal, representing Karnataka, continued his splendid form by scoring a century against Tamil Nadu. This marked his third century of the season, with earlier centuries against Punjab (193 runs) and Goa (105 runs). Padikkal's consistent performances make him a player to watch, and his century contributed to Karnataka's total of 288 runs for the loss of five wickets on the first day against Tamil Nadu.
In conclusion, the ongoing Ranji Trophy matches have witnessed stellar performances from Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Devdutt Padikkal. While Shaw's record-setting century grabbed headlines, Pujara's comeback and Padikkal's consistent form showcase the depth and talent in Indian domestic cricket. As these players continue to shine, their performances may well pave the way for future opportunities in the national team.
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