Domestic players excited by Ranji’s announcement, BCCI has a big job

A group of experienced domestic cricketers, hungry for red-ball cricket for the past two years, could not hide their excitement on hearing that the Ranji Trophy would finally take place in 2022, albeit in two phases.

Organizing the 38-team event amid the COVID-19 pandemic poses a major challenge for the BCCI, whose secretary Jay Shah on Friday announced that the Ranji Trophy could be held after the knockout-IPL In June while the league stage may start in the second week of February.

Organizing the event in parts adds to the challenge, but for cricketers, who are facing financial instability and cannot find a platform to move up the ladder of Indian cricket’s path, only playing with red cherries matters. Is.

Saurashtra’s star batsman Sheldon Jackson said, “Every domestic cricketer in the country is not thinking about league stage or knockout, no bubble or COVID, they just want to play. Everything is there now and the rest will follow.” With the last red ball game in the country in March 2020, whose team has scored an extended run as the defending champions.

“We all are very grateful to BCCI which has decided to organize red ball cricket even in these difficult times. Only when you are able to play, you can think of climbing the ladder. Undoubtedly, red ball cricket is one of the best places to go. Toughest form but we all want to excel in it. It will be a challenge in the beginning but when muscle memory comes back we should be fine.”

According to the format of the competition, each team will play five league matches. This can be accomplished in a month with three days’ rest after every match.

Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals can be held in June, although the monsoon season sets in at that time of year.

Chandigarh pacer Sandeep Sharma, who is an IPL regular, was recently down with COVID-19 after being ruled out of the domestic T20 event due to dengue. He is also happy that Ranji is set to be played, but added that it will be a huge task for the BCCI.

“Only 200 players play IPL but domestic cricket is played by many more. It is important for your career growth as well as financially. Since I have just recovered from COVID, I hope that Ranji No one will be affected by the virus during the IPL. 38 teams and we have seen, despite all the strict measures, the virus managed to enter the bubble. In Ranji Trophy, there will be a lot more teams. This is a great move by the board. And there is a big challenge at the same time,” said Sharma.

Siddhesh Lad, who has not found a place in the Mumbai squad this season, said that the players will finally get a chance to showcase their talent.
“It’s great news for players like us. It keeps us financially stable, plus we’ve been fighting for opportunities for the last two-three seasons.

Lad said, “Unless you are part of the IPL or the national team, we will not be able to showcase our talent. For the last two, three seasons no one knows that I am playing cricket because no one has seen me play.” ” The club had gone to England last year to play cricket. He has also played in IPL.
Other stakeholders, including coaches and officials, are also happy that the “backbone” of Indian cricket is finally up and running.

“Having it in two phases presents a different challenge but it is still a positive development, at least it is happening. Your supply line of cricketers was getting affected due to the lack of red ball cricket and if Ranji didn’t. So the situation will worsen for another year,” Saurashtra coach Neeraj Odedra said.

“It looks like there will be a month break between the league stage and the knockouts, so we can use that time to organize a camp to make sure the players are in the best shape possible for the knockouts in June. It will rain in many parts. In the country but the knockouts can be held in North India but again the weather will be an issue there too. So BCCI should keep all this in mind and take a final call.”

The IPL is expected to begin in the last week of March, which means the BCCI is running against time to organize the Ranji Trophy.

Baroda Cricket Association CEO Shishir Hattangadi said the board may go back to the three-day format for the Ranji Trophy, as it did in the 70s and 80s to ensure that the competition is completed in a limited amount of time.

“It looks like they may have to change the format to restrict movement and travel. Considering the number of days available before the IPL, they may have to go back to the three-day format in the league stage and the knockouts of four days. Maybe.” An entire generation of cricketers came out playing three-day cricket. It seems to be the best option given the limited time frame.”