Shining brightly through the gloom

While their teams' Ranji Trophy campaigns in the Plate division have appeared to have been one long nightmare,some players have accrued individual glory with the runs they piled on and the wickets they bagged

While their teams8217; Ranji Trophy campaigns in the Plate division have appeared to have been one long nightmare,some players have accrued individual glory with the runs they piled on and the wickets they bagged. Jonathan Selvaraj takes a look at those who excelled even as their sides failed to impress collectively.

Dheeraj Jadhav,Assam

704 runs

Dheeraj Jadhav scored over 700 runs at an average of 176 and is the highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy. He has scored 160 runs more than the next best batsman in the Plate Division. Playing as a professional for Assam,he scored five centuries in as many matches. The one he rates his best was an unbeaten 105 against Maharashtra,a side he had quit in acrimony in 2006. Assam finished at the bottom of Group A with six points.

Vinayak Samant,Tripura

543 runs

Wicket-keeper batsman Vinayak Samant had won the Ranji title five times with Mumbai since making his Ranji debut in 2002. Last year,however,he had quit the side citing politics and the desire to prolong his career. Turning out for Tripura this season at the age of 39,he finished second on the Plate Division run chart. He also hit a career-high of 200 n.o. against Vidarbha. Despite his heroics,Tripura finished with just one point.

Sony Cheruvathur,Kerala

322 runs amp; 25 wickets

Largely on the all-round effort of Sony Cheruvathur,Kerala almost managed to reached the knock out stage semi-finalsof the Plate Division. He was the second-highest scorer for his side and the highest wicket taker. The wickets including two six-wicket hauls came at an average of 14.72 the best of any bowler in the lower division. He also scored his maiden century against Vidarbha.

Ian Dev Singh,Jammu amp; Kashmir

406 runs

Perpetual minnows of the domestic circuit,Jammu and Kashmir had yet another forgettable season finishing second from last in their group. The one positive for them was their former U-19 captain Ian Dev Singh,who scored 406 runs,including three centuries in the five matches he played. Singh finished fifth in the run-getters8217; list,one spot ahead of teammate Adil Rishi who scored 397. The next highest season8217;s total for Jammu and Kashmir after these two was 226 runs by Hardeep Singh.