There is a certain old-school charm associated with Ranji Trophy. Red-ball cricket over four or five days, players in white flannels, dull draws and exciting wins. Indian cricket missed all this over the past 23 months with the 2020-21 season shelved due to the pandemic.
The premier domestic tournament returns in a new format with teams playing fewer matches, the tournament being held in two phases – before and after the Indian Premier League — and mid-match Covid replacements. Given that no fresh red-ball talent has emerged on the national scene in the past season, players will be keen to perform and catch the eye of the selectors.
