Sunil Gavaskar Expresses Concern Over Declining Importance of Ranji Trophy

On one hand, the Indian cricket team is busy playing a Test series against New Zealand. On the other hand, the prestigious domestic tournament Ranji Trophy is being played in the country. Most of India's star players are playing in the Test series. Some players are participating in tournaments like the Emerging Asia Cup being played in Oman instead of the Ranji Trophy. India's great cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is upset with this. Gavaskar believes that the importance of the prestigious domestic cricket tournament Ranji Trophy is decreasing due to players participating in other tournaments instead of state teams.

The Ranji Trophy season started on October 11, but after the second round, many players missed playing in the tournament. Many players like Tilak Verma are playing for India-A in the Emerging Asia Cup instead of the Ranji Trophy. Gavaskar said that the India-New Zealand Test series is going on right now. Some players are participating in the Emerging Players Asia Cup. The Ranji Trophy season has already begun and if players are being taken to play in such events, the importance of the national tournament is diminishing.

Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar that there is a four-match T20 series in South Africa before the Australia tour next month. There will also be an 'A' team touring Australia next month. In such a situation, about 50 to 60 players will not be available for their state teams in the Ranji Trophy.

He also said that since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started, the Ranji Trophy is not been given importance. He said that no other country looks at its national tournament as casually as India. Have you ever seen England or Australia conducting 'A' tours or participating in meaningless tournaments during their domestic seasons? But since the IPL has started, the Ranji Trophy has taken a backseat.