Sunil Gavaskar
On one hand, the Indian cricket team is busy playing the Test series against New Zealand. On the other hand, the prestigious domestic tournament Ranji Trophy is being played in the country. Most of India’s star players are playing in the Test series. But there are some players who are participating in tournaments like the Emerging Asia Cup being played in Oman instead of Ranji Trophy. Great Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has become angry due to this. Gavaskar believes that the importance of the prestigious domestic cricket tournament Ranji Trophy is being diminished by players taking part in other tournaments instead of state teams.
Importance of Ranji is decreasing
The Ranji Trophy season started on October 11, but since the second round many players have missed playing in the tournament. Many players like Tilak Verma are playing for India-A in the Emerging Asia Cup instead of Ranji Trophy. Gavaskar said that the India-New Zealand Test series is currently going on. Some players are participating in the Emerging Players Asia Cup. The Ranji Trophy season has started and if players are being taken to play in such events, then the importance of the national tournament is being reduced.
Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar that there is to be a four-match T20 series in South Africa before the Australia tour next month. There will also be an ‘A’ team touring Australia next month itself. In such a situation, about 50 to 60 players will not be available for their state teams in Ranji Trophy.
IPL left Ranji behind
He also said that ever since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started, Ranji Trophy is not being given importance. He said that no other country treats its national tournaments as casually as India. Have you ever seen England or Australia organize ‘A’ tours or participate in meaningless tournaments during their domestic seasons? But ever since IPL started, Ranji Trophy has taken a back seat.