In a bold and unexpected move, several of India’s top and reserve Test players have been sent back to play in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 by head coach Gautam Gambhir to sharpen their red-ball skills ahead of the much-awaited Test series against South Africa.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that he wants players to gain real match experience instead of training sessions at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and that’s why several stars will take part in the upcoming rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
Players like Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Devdutt Padikkal, and Narayan Jagadeesan are all set to play in the upcoming Ranji matches. Since they aren’t part of the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia, this gives them the perfect opportunity to prepare for the Tests.
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Adding more excitement, Rishabh Pant is also expected to make his red-ball comeback in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. After being away from the game for a long time due to injury, the wicketkeeper-batter is likely to play for Delhi in the second round of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
Additionally, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Prasidh Krishna are also expected to return to their state teams once the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia ends. This will give them important match practice before the two-match Test series against South Africa, starting on November 14 in Kolkata.
Gautam Gambhir insists Test players must gain experience in real matches
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir wants India’s Test players to get as much match practice as possible through domestic games, as he believes that playing in real, competitive conditions helps players stay sharp and ready for big challenges.
Gambhir stated, “But again, for the guys who are just part of Test cricket, I think for them to prepare and play domestic cricket is very, very important. Rather than just going to NCA (COE) and working on their skills, I think the more they play in the test matches, the more important it is for the team.”
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The Indian head coach acknowledged India’s tight schedule but stressed that professionalism means making the most of whatever time is available. He noted that the players need to quickly switch between formats and be ready for every challenge, whether it’s ODI, T20, or Test cricket.
Gambhir’s approach has already shown good results. Before the recent Test series against the West Indies, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal played for India A against Australia A and the England Lions, and it helped them really well.
The Indian head coach admitted that it is tough on players, especially for the multi-format players, but he wants to keep this pattern going, ensuring players are match-fit and mentally prepared before every Test series.
Indian stars likely to play against South Africa A
With four-day games against South Africa A and Ranji Trophy matches coming up, Gambhir wants the players to follow the model, as it will help them find rhythm and confidence.
Gambhir signed off by saying, “Playing the Ranji Trophy before the South Africa series is going to be equally important as well. I thought that was something that this group of players had done exceptionally well. They are preparing themselves really well for the test series, and that is where you could see the results as well.”
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