Pune-Born Cricketer Ranjane Marks International Debut for USA with Stellar Performance

In a significant milestone for his cricket career, Shubham Ranjane, a former Rajasthan Royals all-rounder, made his international debut for the American cricket team against Nepal last Sunday. The Pune-born cricketer, who moved to the US in 2022, played a crucial role in the US team's 106-run victory over Nepal in an ICC Men's World Cup League 2 2023/24-2027 ODI match in Dubai.

Ranjane contributed with both bat and ball, showcasing his all-round abilities. Coming in to bat at number 7, he played a responsible knock of 19 runs off 23 balls and stitched together a vital 56-run partnership with fellow Indian-origin player Milind Kumar, who scored an unbeaten 70. This partnership helped the US cross the 200-run mark and set a formidable target of 263 for Nepal.

With the ball, Ranjane, a medium-pacer, struck in his second over in international cricket, breaking a 68-run partnership between Aasif Sheikh and Bhim Sharki by dismissing the latter. He also had the Nepal captain, Rohit Paudel, caught for just 2 runs, leading to a collapse that saw Nepal's innings end at a paltry 156.

Ranjane's impressive debut marks a significant milestone in his cricket career. The 26-year-old made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2016 and went on to play 15 first-class matches, scoring 595 runs and taking 12 wickets. He was also part of the Rajasthan Royals squad for the 2019 Indian Premier League season, though he never made his IPL debut.

Ranjane comes from a proud cricketing lineage, with his grandfather, Vasant Ranjane, representing India in seven Test matches between 1958 and 1964, and his father, Subhash Ranjane, being a fast bowler from Maharashtra who also played for India A.