Ranji Trophy: Jaiswal gets duck, Rahul falls cheaply as India Test stars struggle

Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck, while KL Rahul managed just four runs as India's Test openers suffered a poor start to the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season on Sunday.Ranji Trophy: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul fall cheaply as India Test batters falter on opening day (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Oct 11, 2026 12:42 ISTYashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul suffered disappointing starts to the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season on Sunday, falling for a duck and four respectively on the opening day of the domestic first-class tournament.Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off 13 balls while opening the batting for Mumbai against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. Rahul, meanwhile, managed just four runs for Karnataka against Andhra in Vijayawada, where pacers Kavuri Saiteja and KV Sasikanth struck early to leave last season's runners-up in trouble.Karnataka lost four early wickets as Andhra's bowlers made the most of their start. Rahul's dismissal in the fourth over added to the visitors' woes, leaving their middle order with plenty of work to do.Jaiswal began his domestic campaign after being named in India's ODI squad for the West Indies series, although he did not feature in any of the three matches. The 24-year-old last played in India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, scoring 77 runs across three innings. Ahead of Mumbai's opening match, Jaiswal was also seen keeping wickets during a practice game. Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said the opener could be looking to take up the role in the future, though he admitted he was unsure about Jaiswal's plans."He wants to eventually, in future, keep wickets for maybe Mumbai or go on to keep wickets for the Indian team, is what he is aiming for. That is what I feel, but I haven't got any clarity on that," Lad told reporters on Thursday. Rahul, meanwhile, arrived in the Ranji Trophy after a strong showing in India's recent ODI series against the West Indies. He scored an unbeaten century off 82 balls in his only innings as India won the series 2-1. It was his ninth hundred in the format.India captain Shubman Gill was also absent from the opening round, missing Punjab's match against Assam in New Chandigarh. He could turn out for Punjab in their second fixture against Chhattisgarh, which begins on Sunday.Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar are among the other players with international experience featuring in the opening round.INDIA A SERIES CLASHES WITH ODI SCHEDULERahul, Jaiswal, Washington and Devdutt Padikkal are among 11 Test players named in India's 15-member squad for the three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand A, starting October 24.The first match will be played in Lincoln from October 24 to 28, followed by the second in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3. The final match is scheduled in Lincoln from November 7 to 10.India's ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4, with the next two matches scheduled for November 7 and 10. The overlapping fixtures could limit the availability of Rahul, Jaiswal and Washington for the India A series if they are required for the senior team.ARUNACHAL-NAGALAND MATCH CANCELLEDThe opening round was also disrupted by an administrative dispute in Arunachal Pradesh, with the Plate Group fixture against Nagaland in Ahmedabad cancelled.An ongoing legal tussle within the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association has left the state body without a functioning authority, preventing Arunachal Pradesh from fielding a team for the match.- Ends