Away from the emotions attached to international cricket or the breathless hype that permeates the Indian Premier League, the Ranji Trophy will commence across the nation on Friday. Split into the Elite and Plate divisions and cumulatively featuring 38 teams, India’s premier domestic tournament arrives without any fuss.
The List A fixtures and the IPL tussles do grease India’s conveyor belt for limited overs’ cricket. However, when it comes to playing in whites, it is the Ranji Trophy that often throws up clues about players willing to cope with the rigours of the longer format.
In near-empty venues, except when the game moves into rural outposts, the Ranji Trophy still has infinite charms. India’s core group in Tests, is evolving. Just like it happened between Sourav Ganguly’s retirement in 2008 and Sachin Tendulkar’s glorious swansong in 2013, the present squad’s key stars are also heading inexorably towards the exit door.
