Hardik Pandya has not played any Ranji match since 2018 and Krunal Pandya has not played any Ranji match since 2022.
Cricket’s biggest league IPL (Indian Premier League) is starting from tomorrow i.e. Friday 22nd March. According to a report by Indian Express, out of 165 Indian cricketers participating in IPL 2024, 56 players have not played a single match in Ranji Trophy this season. Whereas, 25 players did not play more than one match. Many big players of India are also included in this.
Hardik- Krunal did not play first class cricket for Baroda
Mumbai Indians’ new captain Hardik Pandya and his brother Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) all-rounder Krunal Pandya have not played for Baroda in Ranji for some time. Hardik last played a domestic tournament in 2018.
Baroda Cricket Association secretary Ajit Lele said, Pandya brothers have not told us the reason. They approach the coach or association president when they are available, but they have not played Ranji for some time. Krunal played white-ball cricket for Baroda this season and Hardik was recovering from injury.
Ishan Kishan distanced himself from Ranji Trophy
India head coach Rahul Dravid had said that Jharkhand’s Ishan Kishan should play in Ranji Trophy to make a comeback for India. However, Jharkhand State Cricket Association president Sanjay Sahay said, ‘He never made himself available for Ranji. We have not received any guidelines from the coach, selectors or BCCI.
BCCI had warned the players
Last month, BCCI had warned Indian players to give priority to IPL over domestic cricket. Due to not playing Ranji Trophy matches this season, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan had to be released from the central contract.
BCCI Secretary Jai Shah had said, recently some such things have come to light which are a cause for concern. Some players have started giving priority to IPL over domestic cricket. This is a change that was not expected. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation on which Indian cricket stands.
Players agree with the franchise
After Umran Malik made headlines for the IPL, two other fast bowlers from Jammu and Kashmir, Rasikh Salam Dar and Yudhvir Singh Charak, were selected for the IPL. Both these players could not play the entire Ranji season.
Brigadier Anil Gupta of the Jammu and Kashmir unit said, Rasik injured his tendon (muscle and joint) in the camp, while Yudhveer received a medical report from the LSG which said he had a shoulder injury. Our physio did not even examine him. Even Umran was not interested in playing in Ranji Trophy.
Even the fee for 10 Ranji matches is not equal to the base price of IPL.
The fee for playing 10 matches in Ranji is also not equal to the base price of IPL. For example, Bhupen Lalwani, who was a part of Mumbai’s Ranji winning team, got Rs 17 lakh 20 thousand for playing 10 first class matches. In contrast, the lowest base price for a player in the last IPL auction is Rs 20 lakh.
Apart from Ranji, domestic tournaments of white ball cricket are becoming the path to IPL for the players. Syed Mushtaq Ali T-20 and 50 over Vijay Hazare Trophy. Franchises look for talents from here.
First class cricket makes better T20 players – Vengsarkar
According to former India captain and BCCI management member Dilip Vengsarkar, first class cricket makes you a better cricketer. He said, the big season helps you in improving mental toughness and temperament, which helps you become a good cricketer even in shorter formats.
In the list of top 10 run scorers of IPL, every batsman has played more than 100 first class matches, while among the bowlers, at least eight bowlers have played more than 50 such matches and are the top bowlers of the league.
Vengsarkar, who gave a chance to Kohli as a selector in the initial phase, said, I believe that cricketers below the age of 19 years should not be allowed to play T20 format. Nowadays even in school cricket they play only T-20 format.