Synopsis
Sunil Gavaskar hopes that the participation of Test players in the Ranji Trophy becomes a consistent practice rather than merely fulfilling requirements. Their involvement has energized the tournament and inspired younger players.Key Takeaways
- Sunil Gavaskar advocates for consistent participation in the Ranji Trophy.
- Top players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to state teams.
- The BCCI's mandate encourages involvement in domestic cricket.
- Star players inspire younger talents at matches.
- Ranji Trophy needs to maintain its elevated status.
New Delhi, Feb 2 (NationPress) As a significant number of Test team athletes participate in the Ranji Trophy for their state teams, iconic Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his desire for this trend to evolve into a genuine commitment rather than a mere box-ticking activity.
Since the commencement of the Ranji Trophy’s second phase on January 23, prominent players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal, and Kuldeep Yadav have represented their respective state teams.
“The players from the Indian team may have taken part in the Ranji Trophy merely to fulfill the BCCI's requirement, but their involvement has infused fresh energy into the National Championship.
“Although they may not have achieved remarkable individual results in the tournament, their presence would have inspired both their teammates and rivals. Interacting with them provides teammates invaluable insights into achieving success in their careers.
“Consider the morale boost for players who managed to dismiss Jaiswal, Sharma, Kohli, and Rahul. They will be eager to challenge other batsmen, knowing they have bested India’s elite,” Gavaskar noted in his column for Mid-day on Sunday.
The return of India's leading Test players to this esteemed domestic competition came after the BCCI mandated their participation in domestic cricket when available, as outlined in a policy document following their 3-1 series defeat in Australia.
“Hopefully, for the Indian stars, reconnecting with the players they started their Ranji Trophy journeys with will rekindle fond memories of teamwork and the arduous path to success.
“While the Indian stars may not have enjoyed significant personal accomplishments in the Ranji matches they played last week, their participation has elevated the Ranji Trophy to the prestigious status it merits, and they deserve recognition for that. Let’s aspire for this to become a regular event rather than just a box-ticking exercise,” Gavaskar added.
The return of Rohit and Kohli to the Ranji Trophy attracted numerous spectators to the stadium, with over 20,000 fans attending to see Kohli play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
“It was delightful to witness the turnout of young fans at the Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. They certainly came to see Virat Kohli, which illustrates the impact of star power.
“If even a small fraction of those who attended find inspiration in the excitement witnessed and go on to achieve greatness in their careers, that would be the icing on the cake. Earlier that week, Rohit Sharma's participation in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match was also a positive sight.
“Given that Mumbai is a bustling city, fewer people could attend the game. Nonetheless, if they were Mumbai fans, it was fortunate they missed it as Jammu and Kashmir defeated the defending champions decisively, which is tough for any Mumbai supporter to witness,” concluded Gavaskar.
