For once, BCCI, the Indian cricket board seems to have done the right thing. They have mandated certain players to play in the Ranji Trophy for their respective state teams. This is a welcome move on the part of the BCCI who is otherwise not concerned about the national team and the prestige of the national team. For a board that places IPL above everything else, this indeed is a surprising move. There are far too many players who when not on national duty, take the time off despite the fact that Ranji Trophy or Duleep Trophy is going on. Let me report about BCCI’s mandate for discarded players.
According to a BCCI official familiar with the decision, “Players cannot simply prioritize international cricket or the IPL. They must make themselves available for domestic cricket and honour their commitments to their respective state teams.”
This has been a common practice
It has been a longstanding tradition in Indian cricket that the established stars do not appear for the state team. They are happy to just put up their feet and spend the day at home on in a far off location. Actually, all of them are either doing a disservice to their state squad that actually nurtured and brought them into recognition. I just could not remember the last time a Kohli turning out for Delhi or a Sharma displaying his batting prowess for Mumbai. For that matter, Ashwin gets time to play in the TNPL but shies away from playing for TamilNadu. This despite the fact that he has loads of time because he plays Test cricket only and that too in India. Yet, he doesn’t want to exert himself in Ranji Trophy.
Sachin Tendulkar, long after he started playing international cricket, appeared for Mumbai in a Ranji game against Haryana in a nondescript town. The respect and affection that he got during that game was tremendous because he was seen as an elite cricket rather than just another opponent from Mumbai.
These so-called demigods of cricket don’t seem to realise the gains that they could derive from playing in a few first-class games every year and also the motivation that it provides the players from their state and the opponents. They also do not seem to realise the knowledge that they could impart to the upcoming cricketers. It is now a known fact that Indians are not the same players of spin as they once were. The struggle against inexperienced spinners in every game suggests the same. Yet, they don’t find it important to play Ranji to correct their technique which has somehow diminished. All of them have actually pushed the ladder that took them to the top.
IPL has made players careless
The current BCCI mandate is that the players who are cooling their heels in anticipation of the IPL must turnout for their respective state teams in the next round of Ranji Trophy games. It includes Ishan Kishan, Deepak Chahar, Krunal Pandya and also Shreyas Iyer. All these players are taking undeserved rest while preparing for the IPL. They seek the glamour and the panache of the IPL and seem to loath the prospect of dust and lack of spectacle of the Ranji games.
This is a serious attitude issue. Neither Pandya nor Chahar has any chance of playing for India which actually means that they must play for their state teams more often than not. Infact, they must play in all the games unless they are injured. It is disturbing to note that they think they do not have any chance of playing for India. As a player, you must believe that someday, you will play for the nation. This is the reason, the story of Pravin Tambe is so moving. He sought to play for Mumbai Ranji Trophy team and did so at the age of 40.
Players must be dropped from IPL if they do not play in Ranji
What about Ishan Kishan or Shreyas? Ishan is not in the team for lack of discipline though neither the BCCI nor the team management has said so. It is out in the open and everybody knows it. He has also been told that unless he plays a few first class fixtures, he will not be considered. Yet, he has the audacity to cool his heels. Dravid said, “I just don’t want to go on labouring about the Ishan Kishan point. I’ve tried to explain it as best as I can. The point was that, you know, he requested a break. We were happy to give him the break and whenever he was ready… I didn’t say he has to play domestic cricket. I said, whenever he’s ready he needs to play some cricket and come back, and the choice is his.”
Here, when Dravid says some cricket, it indeed means domestic cricket. Otherwise, there was no need for him to say any cricket.
Shreyas is a sitting duck against the short ball. Even on the docile Indian surfaces, he has been found wanting. So much so that even a 41 year old Anderson, fancies bouncing him as soon as he is sighted at the wicket. Shouldn’t he be trying to improve his game in Ranji?
Wrapping up BCCI’s mandate for discarded players
BCCI must mandate for every Indian cricketer to play in atleast 3 Ranji games every year.
https://icricketcritique.com/roger-binny-the-new-bcci-president/
https://icricketcritique.com/one-more-warning-for-the-administrators/
https://icricketcritique.com/removal-of-the-entire-indian-selection-panel/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-role-of-a-cricket-captain/
https://icricketcritique.com/rohit-dravid-the-team-and-the-board/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-curious-case-of-sarfaraz-khan/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-importance-of-the-ranji-trophy/