First glimpse at TSK allrounder Shubham Ranjane on a cricket field, you will immediately notice what's special. There's that extra spring in every step, that swagger that stems from his supreme self confidence. And never shy to put it on display at his opponents. Whether it's with bat, ball, or hurtling from deep midwicket to deep midwicket every over, Ranjane is an all pervasive force on a cricket field. His eagerness to own every moment he breathes from a cricket field is palpable.
It is the same infectious vibe that he once exuded in the Mumbai dressing room during his time in India which left an indelible mark. So much so that five years after he moved on, it still echos with those who shared that space with him. One of his former teammates and now India's T20I captain took to Instagram to amplify Ranjane's breakthrough MLC innings of 70 off 45 when the chips were down. Suryakumar Yadav hailed his former teammates's X factor in a nostalgic post, further highlighting that it was only the beginning of greater things in life for Ranjane.
"Even if I play gully cricket it is all intense. Whichever game I play, it is all about giving 200%. Whatever the situation, I should be there and get my team to win. I want the ball to come to me. Even when I bowl, I want that breakthrough. It's all about that game changing attitude. Whatever the situation, if you need two sixes, I want to be the one to finish it. Not risking it to leave it for someone else," Ranjane told Cricbuzz.
That mindset of owning the moment has always been part of his DNA. Back in 2019, under the simmering Navi Mumbai sun, Ranjane played a Times Shield game at the DY Patil stadium during the day and stayed back to trial for Rajasthan Royals in the evening. Then 25, he found himself tasked with chasing 60 runs in pairs alongside Shimron Hetmyer, facing the likes of Oshane Thomas and Keemo Paul. What followed was one-sided carnage. Ranjane scored 52 of the required 60 runs, sealing the deal with four balls to spare. That was the same spark, the same X-factor that Suryakumar felt nostalgic about.
Ranjane may have found his mojo with the TSK, but not too long ago, his cricketing fortunes took a dip after being released by the Seattle Orcas just ahead of the domestic draft. Letting go of arguably, the number one seam-up all-rounder in the domestic circuit, was a brave call from the Orcas who opted for a revamp of their domestic roster. But Orcas' decision was a blessing, albeit in disguise, for Ranjane. TSK were prompt to bag him as their number one pick in the draft for a sum of $80,000. A significant payday for a cricketer in America, who beyond the months of Major and Minor League wouldn't know where his next pay check is coming from.
"The preparations began quickly after the draft day. I was given a lot of clarity from day one on what my role was going to be. I never once got an impression I'd be a passenger on the squad. I was always made to feel like an integral part of the unit. They gave me confidence and things started falling into place. The coaches were always in touch. The feedback mechanism was in place for every session. It gave me immense confidence"
Being a domestic behemoth with MVP performances in tournaments like the USPL, Ranjane is hopeful of a spot in the national team in the near future. He has his eyes on filling the void of a batting all-rounder with seam up abilities that USA dearly miss. While not being utilised in the MLC at the moment, his array of slower deliveries along with his clean ball striking would be a handful for USA in the subcontinental conditions for the next year's T20 world cup. And not to forget that X factor Suryakumar is so fond of.
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