Punjab lost three wickets in the first session of its Ranji Trophy 2026-27 fixture against Chhattisgarh on Sunday, with left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal picking up two, including the prized wicket of Shubman Gill.
Gill walked in to bat at number four but lasted just five balls and scored one run before he was cleaned up by Mandal.
The Indian ODI and Test captain Gill succumbed to a delivery that held its line. The ball went through the gate between the bat and pad to crash onto the middle stump.
Who is Ajay Mandal?
Mandal made his First-Class debut for Chhattisgarh in the 2016-17 edition of the Ranji Trophy and went on to represent the state in the shorter formats in the years that followed.
He has played 47 First-Class matches, amassing 2,047 runs and 133 wickets. His highest score with the bat is 241 not out, which came while batting at No. 8 in a Ranji Trophy game against Uttarakhand in 2019.
He is the first Chhattisgarh bowler to reach 100 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and is the state’s highest wicket-taker, with best figures of 13/63.
Mandal was picked by Chennai Super Kings for Indian Premier League 2023, and a couple of years later, he was bought by Delhi Capitals. However, he is yet to make his debut in the competition.
Published on Oct 18, 2026
