Is the batting tradition of Indian home cricket on the crossroads? White-ball choice hinges on efficiency within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with the added incentive of an IPL contract nowadays. The tournaments too at the moment are scheduled in such a approach that IPL scouts get a very good have a look at potential buys earlier than validating bids in December’s IPL mini-auction. But what in regards to the Ranji Trophy?
Sustained excellence within the Ranji Trophy doesn’t minimize it anymore.(AP)
No one will deny India’s premier first-class match has lengthy ceased to be a one-stop choice floor for Tests. Duleep Trophy narrows the scrutiny to a zonal foundation, earlier than the ‘A’ excursions function one other sorting stage. But since Test specialists evidently aren’t in vogue anymore, batters are being conditioned to taking the faster IPL path to choice. That has routinely strengthened the idea that T20-like batting within the Ranji Trophy is the one approach ahead.
Wrap up the 12 months passed by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click right here
“The art of leaving balls has gone for a toss, more acutely in the last five-six years,” Bengal captain and former India participant Manoj Tiwary informed HT from Visakhapatnam forward of their Ranji Trophy conflict in opposition to Andhra. “Everyone wants to play aggressively all the time and that’s what I don’t understand. Some of the players still believe doing well in Ranji Trophy will eventually fetch them a place in the Test team. But the thought process of the maximum percentage of youngsters is driven towards the aim of playing the IPL.”
That sustained excellence within the Ranji Trophy doesn’t minimize it anymore was evident when Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t picked for the 2023 Test tour of West Indies regardless of three back-to-back profitable home seasons. “What does he have to do to be picked in the squad? He might not be in the XI, but you pick him in the team,” Sunil Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Sports Today after the squad was introduced. “Tell him that his performances are being recognised. Otherwise, cease taking part in Ranji Trophy. Say, it is of no use, you simply play IPL and suppose you might be ok for the red-ball recreation as effectively.”
Despite the BCCI’s commitment to preserving Test cricket as the most elite level of the sport, the average domestic cricketer is instinctively more drawn to the dazzle and financial freedom of an IPL contract. “I don’t blame the youngsters,” said Tiwary. “I think the IPL has benefitted a lot of younger players. You get fame and security in very little time, and you don’t even have to represent your state to earn an IPL contract.”
Broader factors come into play as well. Once Ranji Trophy reverted to the home-and-away format in 2017-18, most state associations resorted to preparing slower pitches that didn’t allow fast bowlers to challenge the batters enough. So when the 2020 season had to be abandoned because of the pandemic, Ravichandran Ashwin identified it as a time for Tamil Nadu — a major force in domestic cricket — to re-examine their outlook. “Our league structure needs a rethink because we can’t produce fast bowlers on dead pitches,” Ashwin had said on his YouTube channel. “We need better wickets and have to come up with new solutions. Maybe we can have a points incentive for bowling out teams and for wickets taken by pacers. Then you will automatically see livelier wickets and our batsmen will also get better at playing fast bowling. Good bounce helps spinners as well.”
Considering how the South Africa tour went down for India, the technique of younger batters is bound to be questioned again. But Tiwary believes nothing major is expected to change overnight at the domestic level. “Even if it’s a four-five day game, they play with the intent of T20. They want to improve their strike rate and show people how aggressive they are. From the broader perspective, the team (balance) gets disturbed. Having said that, this is where the senior players and coaches must step in. These things will happen.
“If a youngster sees an uncapped player who hasn’t represented his state or played just a few matches get ₹50 lakh or a crore, how are you going to cease this participant from dreaming of touchdown an IPL contract? It’s humanly not doable except the IPL governing council comes up with a special purse for these gamers.”
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
