Top 5 performers in Round 3 of Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ft. Yashasvi Jaiswal

The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy Round 3 commenced from Saturday, November 1 onwards, and was glittered with some stellar team displays, as well as some notable individual performances as well. Heavyweight sides like Bengal, Mumbai, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Vidarbha, and Punjab had to settle for draws.

The biggest victors from Round 3 were arguably Karnataka, who flexed their muscles to post a win by an innings and 164 runs at the KCA Cricket Ground.

The Round 3 of Ranji Trophy Fixtures proved to be essential for players as it coincides with the build-up to the upcoming two-match series against South Africa, commencing from November 14 onwards. The selectors are expected to announce the team soon, and the fixtures presented itself as an opportunity for some players to make a late impression, and for the regulars to maintain form, and use this as an avenue to prepare.

On that note, let us take a look at the top five performers in Round 3 of Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

#1 Yashasvi Jaiswal

The opening batter, featuring for Mumbai once again after his NOC fiasco during the off season, marked his return in some style. After recently featuring in the Indian squad during the ODIs in Australia, where he did not avail a single appearance, Jaiswal slammed 67 and 156 in the first and the second innings, respectively, against Rajasthan, to prepare for the upcoming home Tests against South Africa.

Opening the innings alongside Musheer Khan, the southpaw was at his absolute best at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Mumbai were able to post opening partnerships of over 100 runs across both innings during the high-scoring affair.

Jaiswal's second innings ton came at a rapid rate as well and he ended with a strike rate of 89.66, after slamming 18 fours and a six.

#2 Deepak Hooda

The seasoned all-rounder had kick-started his Ranji campaign with a ton against Chhattisgarh, and he continued his fine run of form with a mammoth double hundred against domestic heavyweights, Mumbai. After a promising display by the bowlers to restrict the opposition to 254 in the first innings, Deepak Hooda slammed 248 runs off 335 deliveries to help the team reply back with a staggering first innings total of 617-6.

Hooda's last appearance for India came in early 2023, a phase where he was in the scheme of the white-ball squads. Prior to the start of the domestic season, his last competitive appearance had come during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he had a difficult campaign.

Amid reports of being released ahead of the mini auction, his purple patch could perhaps aid his cause.

#3 Karun Nair

Recently excluded from the Indian squad, Karun Nair had made a massive statement in Karnataka's previous match against Goa, where he scored an unbeaten 174. In Round 3, he went one step further to slam a brilliant 233 in the first innings against Kerala.

The veteran batter put on a mammoth 343-run partnership with fellow double centurion Smaran Ravichandran to help Karnataka post 586-5 after they were reduced to 13-2 at one stage.

Not only was Karun Nair excluded from the Indian Test squad, but he was also not considered for the Irani Trophy, nor the India 'A' home series against South Africa 'A'. As things stand, he is the second leading run scorer in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, with 488 runs at an average of 162.66.

#4 Anukul Roy

The Jharkhand left-arm spinner ran riot against Nagaland to bag 13 wickets in the team's win by an innings and 196 runs in Ranchi. After Jharkhand posted 510 in their first innings, courtesy of opener Shikhar Mohan's double ton and skipper Virat Singh's hundred.

Anukul Roy ran through the Nagaland batting unit in the first innings, by bagging eight wickets. Only 14 players have ever picked more than eight wickets in an innings in the Ranji Trophy. His figures of 8-55 are now among the best ever recorded in the tournament's history.

After Nagaland were bowled out for just 154 in the first innings, Jharkhand enforced the follow-on. A similar script ensued in the second innings as well, with Roy picking up another five-wicket haul. His figures of 5-35 meant that Nagaland were bundled out for 160, at the second time of asking.

#5 Abhirath Reddy

Hyderabad pulled off a special win over Himachal Pradesh after chasing down 347 in the fourth innings, with four wickets to spare. This marks the 10th highest run chase in the competition's history, and the highest ever recorded by Hyderabad.

Himachal Pradesh had a slender lead after the first innings, and a middle order resurgence helped them stretch the lead beyond 300, and pose a challenging target.

Opening batter Abhirath Reddy set the tempo for the run chase, and also ended up finishing things as he remained unbeaten on 175 off 200 deliveries as the team reached the total in just 75.3 overs. This was the 29-year-old's first first class hundred after making his debut in 2022.