Ranji circuit: Large on scale, low on quality

While international commitments roll on (Australia arrive in September followed by Sri Lanka), Indian cricket’s great domestic circus is about to start shortly. There is more domestic cricket played in India than in any other country. The top level is four-day Ranji Trophy with 28 first-class teams (Australia have 6, England 18) and close to 1000 first class players. Then, there are under 14/16/19/23 age group tournaments across formats. Each match is scored live and every ball video filmed.

Inevitably, there are hiccups and glitches while handling logistics of this scale. The quality too suffers. Tracks are either totally batting-friendly or wretchedly under-prepared. India have more than 100 Ranji umpires but lack of quality is a recurring issue.

A more serious charge is that domestic cricket, though big on numbers, is uncompetitive and allows mediocrity to flourish. That’s not to deny progress, however slow, as teams are ‘professional’ and pre-season training a serious affair.

States hold matches to select ‘probables’ who are put in ‘camps’. They are then sent to participate in the KSCA, Buchi Babu and Moin-ud-Dowlah red ball tournaments to get matchfit. Most teams travel with full time coaches, physios, trainers, masseurs and video analysts.

Fielding is sharp as cricketers are fit and athletic. Batting is aggressive because of T20 cricket; bowling led by three disciplined medium pace bowlers.

Ultimately, cricket is about players. Each one, whether the veteran Devendra Bundela (40, captain of Madhya Pradesh), or a youngster is chasing a personal dream. Some play for pride, others for getting an IPL contract or representing India.

In this tough quest, only a handful succeed. In 86 years, since CK Nayudu’s team first played Test cricket down to Hardik Pandya this July, only 289 lucky players have represented India.

With no regular job, no financial security, no guaranteed wages, the status of a Ranji cricketer is no better than that of a daily wage earner.

Yet, he plays cricket. Some say he plays a bigger game by staking his life on a future that is frighteningly uncertain.

THE QUALITY TOO SUFFERS. TRACKS ARE EITHER TOTALLY BATTINGFRIENDLY OR WRETCHEDLY UNDERPREPARED. INDIA HAVE MORE THAN 100 RANJI UMPIRES BUT LACK OF QUALITY IS A RECURRING ISSUE