A fascinating moment captured attention on the second day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 match at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. While cricket matches frequently witness remarkable records, the direct on-field duel between two players sharing the same surname provided a rare talking point. Seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja notched up the 16th first-class century of his career representing Saurashtra, only to fall shortly afterward to a bowler sharing his exact surname.
The Namesake Dismissal and Caught-and-Bowled
During Monday's play, while batting on 102 runs, Ravindra Jadeja was caught and bowled by Chhattisgarh bowler Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. This unique passage of play effectively meant a Jadeja dismissed a Jadeja. Born on August 4, 1990, in Rajkot, Gujarat, Dharmendrasinh is also a left-arm orthodox spinner, much like his more famous counterpart. He was the leading wicket-taker for Saurashtra in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Ranji seasons and played a pivotal role in their Ranji Trophy title-winning campaigns in 2019-20 and 2022-23, though he is currently representing Chhattisgarh as a guest player this season.
Preparation for the Upcoming New Zealand Tour
This domestic appearance is widely viewed as a preparatory step for Ravindra Jadeja ahead of international red-ball commitments. He was last seen in action during the Test series against Sri Lanka and India's subsequent 2-1 home ODI series victory against the West Indies. The left-arm spin-all-rounder's participation in domestic cricket serves as crucial match practice before the team's tour of New Zealand begins next month. The opening Test is scheduled to take place in Wellington from November 19 to 23, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
