5 best performers in the 2016-17 Indian domestic season
The 2016-17 Indian domestic season came to end with Tamil Nadu winning the Deodhar Trophy a few days back by beating India B in the finals. This season saw Gujarat winning the Ranji Trophy, Rest of India beating the Ranji champions to take home the Irani Trophy, East Zone coming out as the winners in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Zonal T20 trophy, and Tamil Nadu completing the List A double by winning both the List A tournaments, Vijay Hazare and Deodhar trophy.
Extra cover: 2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy: Team of the Tournament
Several players made a mark during the season and few players were rewarded for their efforts by making it to the Indian team. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer were called up to represent India while some of them made a case for themselves to get into the Indian team, thanks to their performances.
Let us take a look at five players who had a memorable Indian domestic season.
Priyank Panchal
Gujarat batsman Priyank Panchal had a breakthrough season in the domestic circuit as he ended up as the leading run-scorer in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy. The right-hander was brilliant for Gujarat throughout the season and was the main reason why the Parthiv Patel-led side made it to the finals and crowned champions.
Panchal scored 1310 runs in 17 innings at an average of 87.33 in the Ranji Trophy with five centuries and four fifties including an unbeaten 314. But he failed to carry on the form in the limited-over formats as he is a player who is suited to the first-class format.
When he was called to play for India A against the visiting Bangladeshi team, Panchal made a statement by scoring a century. It is important for Panchal to carry on from where he left off in the 2016/17 season as a national call-up could be round the corner for the Gujarat batsman if he continues to pile on the runs.