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Journalism of Courage
The season has ended for some of the best players of Ranji 2004-05, as their teams have been eliminated. Here8217;s the top XI that won8217;t be there in the semis; thanks for the memories
S Vidyut Tamil Nadu: Can play anywhere between one and 11. Has scored a Ranji century batted at number 11 and this season, opening the innings, the 23-year-old slammed 465 runs. And picked up wickets with his left-arm spinners
R Barrington Karnataka: Ended the league phase with 601 runs. Having already played six seasons, the 24-year-old opener scored career-best 283 against MP in Bangalore
Niraj Patel Gujarat: Phenomenal 735 runs from six games. Part of the 2000 U-19 World Cup winning squad, he vanished for a few seasons before resurfacing in style. At 23, he8217;s the cornerstone of Gujarat8217;s stunning run this season
Shikhar Dhawan Delhi: Probably the Best New Face of the season so far, made the most of the chance that came his way when Delhi regulars got the India call. Despite missing the first game of the season, ended Delhi8217;s season at the head of the aggregates with 461 runs.
Y Venugopala Rao Andhra: The star of the first phase. Everyone was waiting to watch the batsman in action and he delivered with 585 runs. Just to earn a few bonus points, Venu 22 picked up 20 wickets with his off-breaks. How does one keep him out now?
Suresh Raina Uttar Pradesh: Playing for the minnows has been a blessing in disguise for someone who hasn8217;t always found consistency. 482 runs from UP8217;s league assignments, with little support through an innings, proves that Raina 20 has come of age
Thilak Naidu Karnataka: Part of Team India8217;s plans till a year back, his 22 dismissals this season 8212; plus a couple of big hits with the bat 8212; show that he8217;s making a serious effort to get back into the reckoning
Sunil Joshi Karnataka: The Senior Pro in this XI, he8217;s on the wrong side of 30. But that hasn8217;t blunted his skills with the ball, as his 31 wickets from seven games proves. Or with the bat 8212; he completed the 3000 runs-300 wickets double this season
Rudra Pratap Singh Uttar Pradesh: 34 scalps but, like Raina, benefitted from playing for minnows. Managed to hold his own for yet another season despite opening the bowling with seasoned Ashish Winston Zaidi
R Ramkumar Tamil Nadu: With Bengal8217;s Murtaza Lodhgar the best season8217;s left-arm spinner but Lodhgar8217;s loss of form of late meant Ramkumar 23 could move ahead and finished with 32 scalps. Murali Kartik better watch out
Ranadeb Bose Bengal: His 34 wickets for the season from long and penetrative spells would have boosted his chances of national selection. With injuries to the country8217;s senior pacemen becoming routine, Bose will hope for more opportunities to display his abilities
