Sarthak Ranjan Shines in Kolkata Knight Riders' Intra-Squad Match, Sparks IPL 2026 Hype Sarthak Ranjan, the son of politician Pappu Yadav, delivered a standout performance during the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) intra-squad match at Eden Gardens on Friday, showcasing his talent ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 29-year-old batter scored a rapid 37 runs off just 16 balls for the Rinku Singh-led Golden Knights, striking five fours and two sixes to achieve a strike rate of nearly 240. His innings came after opener Tim Seifert provided a strong start, though his partner Rachin Ravindra struggled, scoring only four runs before being dismissed by Vaibhav Arora. Ranjan's impact was further highlighted by his 20 runs in the third over bowled by pacer Vaibhav Arora. His aggressive batting style and consistency in domestic leagues and the Delhi Premier League had already caught the attention of selectors, leading to his acquisition by KKR at his base price of Rs 30 lakh during the IPL 2026 mini auction in November. Despite a slow start to his IPL journey, his recent performances have positioned him as a key contender for the franchise. The emotional highlight of the match came when Pappu Yadav took to social media to express pride in his son's achievements. He posted, "Badhai betu, jamkar khelo, apne pratibha ke dum par apni pehchan banao... ab Sarthak ke naam se banegi hamari pehchan!" (Translation: "Congratulations, son, play boldly, build your identity through your talent... now our identity will be named Sarthak.") The message resonated with fans, symbolizing hope for aspiring domestic players aiming to break into the elite cricketing sphere.#ipl_2026 #kolkata_knight_riders #eden_gardens #sarthak_ranjan #pappu_yadav
