RANJI TROPHY 2016-17

Uncertainty and skepticism accompany change ahead of Ranji Trophy 2016-17

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Mohammad Kaif will lead the Ranji Trophy debutants Chhattisgarh. © Cricbuzz

Resistance and question marks over change is the natural order. Involuntarily, the first reaction that every change - however good or bad, however disastrous or path-breaking - invokes is that of uncertainty, skepticism and reservation. After a bit deliberation, India's premier domestic tournament will head into its 83rd edition with a massive tweak. For the first time in Ranji Trophy's rich history, the entire competition will be played at neutral venues - a recommendation put forth by Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly-led Technical Committee. Previously, knockout matches of the Ranji Trophy have been held in neutral venues, but this year will be the first time when group-stage matches too will not have 'home' games.

There is a sound argument to offer against this latest development. Despite the history and relevance of the tournament as far as Indian cricket is concerned, Ranji has constantly been on the back-burner in the current era. The longevity of the tournament has ensured it still has fans following the progress of their favourite teams season after season, but the amount of eyeballs it catches have diminished at an alarming rate over the years. Unlike the 1970s, very few international stars feature for their respective state sides. The packed international schedule just doesn't allow any room for such indulgence, thereby dragging the interest levels further down. The new-age fan would rather cast his eyes on the glamour-filled, drama-induced 'domestic' tournament and seek a sense of belonging there.

What sense, then, does it really make to drag teams out of their homes? Why would an old-school cricket fan in Mumbai be content watching Haryana and Services battle it out in the first week of the tournament? What about those supporters of Assam, who would've been buoyed after a breakthrough season last year? What is the incentive for a fan to flock the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur while Rajasthan take the field more than 2,000 kms away in Chennai? Where do the last few connoisseurs of the domestic cricket in India go to?

Even if the new setup comes as a raw deal for fans, there seems to be sound logic behind it. The drastic decision is the product of last season's shenanigans. As many as nine fixtures finished inside two days, as home advantage was stretched to unacceptable limits. Spinners made merry on rank turners at home and won matches for their team, but their true potential and ability to graduate to the next level, one of the important reasons for playing in the tournament, remained questionable.

"The reason for the Ranji Trophy is not only to decide the winner in the end. It also has a job to develop and prepare cricketers for the international stage. And if we keep playing on bad wickets like these, we are not going to develop and produce good cricketers."

Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid hit the nail on the head while lamenting what had turned into unhealthy obsession for outright results. A neutral venue, in that sense, will negate unfair home advantage, and the unfamiliarity of conditions could add a new dimension to the contest. From the players' point of view, it could prepare them better - a spinner-friendly side will have to learn to cope in conditions tailor-made for quicker bowlers and a batsman-heavy team will have to dig deep on surfaces conducive for bowlers, thereby improving the all-round quality of teams and players, vying to take a step closer to the national setup. Leaving no stones unturned in their bid to level the playing field, the BCCI has also added 17 new curators to the grounds and pitches committee to ensure matches are conducted smoothly, on sporting pitches in neutral venues.

The decision to literally take teams out of their comfort zone is an earnest one, even if it comes along with a host of teething issues. There is no guarantee that playing in a neutral venue will take skewing of surfaces in one team's favour totally out of the equation. Can the preparation of pitches be independent of the relationship between the host state association and that of one or both of the teams playing at the venue? What happens when a curator has to make a surface for a game, whose result will have an impact on the fate of the team fielded by his state association? The questions, however pressing and valid, might have to be sidelined and revisited retrospectively after the final in January 2017.

Promotion and Relegation

Saurashtra, who punched above their weight to finish on top of Group C and made their way to the final, have been promoted to Group B, where they find themselves amidst Assam, Karnataka and Delhi. At the opposite end of the spectrum are Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, who earned the wooden spoon in Group A and Group B respectively, have been relegated to Group C.

Stalwarts and Underdogs

Living up to expectations and shattering the odds are two of the most intriguing aspects of a sport that has existed long enough to allow for such narratives. Forty one-time champions Mumbai will, thus, be the team most eyes will be on, to see if its uncanny dominance can stretch to another season. Then there's Karnataka, who fell off the perch last year, after their two treble-winning seasons prior to that. Delhi, the seven-time winners, too will hope to put themselves on the path to success again, after having dabbled with a lot of administrative issues last year. A young Tamil Nadu team, led by Abhinav Mukund, will also back itself to improve on its last season's tally of two wins in eight fixtures.

Saurashtra, the surprising runners-up of last season, have a tough task of maintaining standards. Moving up from Group C to B, Saurashtra will face the tough task of keeping up with some of the big boys. That without the services of two experienced performers in Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara to fall back on will be quite a test of their temperament. A lot of focus will also be on the spirited Assam side that made its way to the semifinal of last year's tournament, while debutant Chhattisgarh's foray into the competition will also be watched keenly.

Design of progression

Besides all the uncertainty and anticipation, the season brings along the usual dose of optimism for players hoping to ascend on the ladder of progression and make forward stride in the pecking order for Indian team selection. Every run, every wicket, every drop of sweat could lead to something substantial for all those who take the field between Thursday (October 6) and second week of January. How many of the hundreds of cricketers will see their dreams fulfilled is anyone's guess, but recent 'design' should buoy each and every Indian cricket aspirant.

Case in point: Faiz Fazal. The left-handed Vidarbha opener became the first player in 16 years to make his ODI debut in his thirties when he played against Zimbabwe earlier this year. Conspiracy theorists may blame the advent and the rapid rise of IPL as the reason for the decline in interest and value of Ranji Trophy, but BCCI's decision to reward Fazal - the only member of the side without an IPL contract - for his hard work over the course of a domestic season cannot be discounted. Fazal scored 714 first-class runs at an average of 44.62 and anchored Rest of India's scintillating chase of 480 in the Irani Cup with a superb 127. Fazal also put on commendable performances in the 50-over format of the domestic game and signed off with a century in the Deodhar Trophy final.

At 31, he may not to be a constant feature in Indian team's scheme of things, but the fact that he was presented with the opportunity to put on the national jersey and represent the country should inspire confidence among many others as they head into the long season ahead.

A new entrant

Besides the rule tweak, Ranji Trophy this year has also made room for a 28th team. Earlier in February, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) graduated from being an associate member of BCCI to full membership, paving the way for the team's debut in Ranji Trophy and opening the doors for lot of local talent eagerly waiting for an opportunity. Amandeep Khare, a 16-year-old batsman from Bhilai and a member of India's Under-19 World Cup squad in Bangladesh earlier this year, had expressed his pain. "Ranji Trophy ke baare mein, mein ab soch raha hoon (I am thinking about Ranji Trophy now). After India Under-19, Ranji Trophy is the next hope for me to become eligible for India senior team," he had said in January. He had even harboured thoughts of moving away from his home state, but BCCI took care of that worry soon.

CSCS, clearly pleased with BCCI's decision, swiftly roped in Mohammed Kaif and Sulakshan Kulkarni as the captain and coach of the team to ensure they begin well. Chhattisgarh will make their Ranji Trophy debut against Tripura at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.

Ranji audition for pink ball?

Ever since pink ball's eventful debut in the Adelaide Test between Australia and New Zealand last November, BCCI has been toying with the idea of hosting one in India. Keeping that in mind, pink ball was introduced in Duleep Trophy, the domestic tournament where a lot of senior India players featured.

Despite mixed response, BCCI president Anurag Thakur confirmed last month that it will be feature in the Ranji trophy. When, where and by which teams is currently unknown.

Movers and shakers

Subramaniam Badrinath, Vidarbha's captain for the last two years, has opted to make a move to Hyderabad, while Mumbai spinner Iqbal Abdullah also makes a Southward journey to turn out for Kerala, amongst many other ins and outs ahead of the 2016-17 season. Here's a complete list of players and coaches who've set out in search of greener pastures.

Defending champions Mumbai begin their campaign against Tamil Nadu in Lahili on October 6. ©Reuters

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