CHENNAI: The silverware in the previous 10 editions of the Ranji Trophy, has been won by six teams. Rajasthan, Karnataka, Mumbai and Vidarbha have claimed it twice each with Gujarat and Saurashtra completing the roll of honour. What made these teams champion sides were consistency, teamwork and more importantly the hunger for success. Individually too some of the players from these teams have scripted success stories internationally.
In the case of Karnataka, who won the tournament back-to-back in 2013-14 and 2014-15, a clutch of players have gone on to wear the India colours. But in the six editions after their last landmark win, the six-time champions have failed to make it to the final. In this truncated edition, they face an uphill task of breaking the duck. In the four-team elite groups, every point matters and Karnataka have fallen behind, having settled for a draw against Railways in their opening fixture. Jammu and Kashmir top the table with a win against Pondicherry.
