Zal Irani Cup, 2010-11

[Chandan]

This is the season opener of domestic cricket in India and this year ROI will be taking on the Ranji champions Mumbai at Jaipur from 1st October. But unfortunately this match will be coinciding with test match between India and Australia at Mohali and hence none of international players will be available for either side which is a pity.

[Feed]

Indian domestic cricket 2010-11: When will the BCCI wake up? It is high time the powers that be in Indian cricket woke up to the importance of domestic cricket in the country. More... When will the BCCI wake up? It is high time the powers that be in Indian cricket woke up to the importance of domestic cricket in the country. By Abhideep Das The Australian cricket team is all set to tour India for the fourth successive year in October this year. While the cricket contests between these two nations have enthralled audiences all over the world, the timing of the BIG-CLASH this time has left a lot to be desired. With the Commonwealth Games scheduled from October 3-14 at Delhi, it comes as no surprise then that the Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has asked the Sports Minister to request the BCCI to postpone the Border-Gavasker Trophy, set to start on October 1. But it is not just other sports that BCCI needs to take care of. What about the premier domestic competitions? As per the itinerary released by the Board, the Irani Trophy clash between Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai and the Rest of India also takes place between 1-5 October. This means that individuals like Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan would not be in a position to represent their home side Mumbai since they would be busy with Test match duty for India. This match is supposed to showcase the best domestic talent in the country. However, the step-motherly treatment meted out by the BCCI to a game of such importance is ridiculous to say the least. The value of domestic cricket in India has gone down several notches over the last 15 years and the Board needs to apportion a major part of the blame. While state associations fight with each other to get an ODI match allotted, domestic cricket continues to be played in front of empty stands. However, this was not the case even some years back. The 1991 Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Haryana was played in front of a packed house at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In one of the closest finishes ever, Haryana prevailed over Mumbai by two runs and won the Ranji Trophy for the first time. Dilip Vengsarkar, the then Mumbai captain, was extremely disappointed with the result and shed tears after the loss. It was a time when national team members regularly turned up for their state or zone and played for pure pride and honour. However with international cricket now being played all around the year, it is just impossible to expect players on national duty to regularly turn up for their state teams. Instead of organising meaningless international cricket tours to places like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to enlist their support in the ICC, the BCCI would do well to keep the big guns of Indian cricket available for important domestic clashes like the Ranji final or the Irani Trophy. In recent times, the 2007 Ranji trophy final saw Mumbai and Bengal lock horns in front of a decent crowd at the Wankhede. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Saurav Ganguly ensured that the highest quality of cricket was played on that occasion. The 2009-10 Ranji final between Mumbai and Karnataka was also played in front of a packed house in Mysore. So people will come to the ground even for five-day domestic encounters provided they are scheduled properly. However, BCCI CAO, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty vehemently defends allegations against the richest sporting body in India ignoring domestic cricket. “BCCI is not diluting domestic cricket. We have no choice but to adopt a schedule where domestic and international matches are played simultaneously.” But he does agree that big international players help in attracting the crowd for Ranji Trophy ties and sighted the Board’s helplessness in making them available for these games. “With a packed international calendar, it is extremely difficult to make the international players available for the Ranji Trophy matches most of the times. Presence of star players certainly adds to the spectators’ interest in these matches,” he mentioned. It is unfortunate that domestic cricket continues to suffer because of BCCI’s commercial diktats. While players can now make comfortable living just by playing domestic cricket, it is a sad reflection of the way cricket administration is run in the country when an upcoming talented youngster like Saurabh Tiwary makes a statement about how 30-odd runs in an IPL game gives him more prominence than a 100 in the Ranji Trophy! Ever since India achieved its numero uno status in Tests, the BCCI suddenly felt a strong urge to organise more Tests in India. While purists are happy with this outcome, the manner in which these games are squeezed into the already packed international calendar is not desirable. When India played Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in December 2009, there were some doubts amongst cricket followers that it was the final time when the BIG three of Indian cricket – Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman were appearing together on Indian soil. As per the schedule then, India’s home itinerary in 2010 did not have a single Test scheduled. But of course everything changed after India became the No. 1 Test side in the world on a misty December 6 Mumbai morning. A two-match home Test series was hurriedly organised in February against South Africa. The trend continues with another two Tests being squeezed in October this year when Australia come visiting India, a series that was originally meant to include only ODIs. With a three-Test series against New Zealand to follow the Aussie series, fans in India are assured of some top quality Test cricket this year. However, if India slip from their current position at the top, one wouldn’t be shocked if the Board doesn’t show the same sort of urgency in organising these games. On many occasions BCCI office-bearers have openly mentioned that their coffers are filled by organising ODIs and T20s instead of Tests. While it remains to be seen whether Team India maintains its numero uno status in Test cricket, it would be foolhardy on the part of BCCI to continue ignoring domestic cricket. After all Indian cricket followers would not want their team to go the West Indies way!

[Sir john]

BCCI :finger:

[achilles]

BCCI needs someone to schedule matches with a proper break between games so that if an Indian international plays for his state or company, he doesn't jeopardize his chances of playing for the national team. Also, televising and promoting the Ranji games like an India-Pakistan series might help. Given that it is INDIA we are talking about here, it is a given that the players are occupied with a lot of series, with hardly any rest for them. So expecting them to come play in a 4-day in a 10-day break that they might get between a series is unfair to them. A rotation policy in the national team might do wonders for Domestic cricket coz if a player plays say 10 games and there is a policy which aims at cultivating a strong bench-strength, he can be asked to play a few domestic games and that would also add to the pomp of the domestic structure. Getting sponsors and splashing billboards around town might help too. The BCCI needs to do something about this issue.

[IKnowU]

:ditto: They need to make set timeframe for IPL and Champions League and STICK To IT!!

[saneindian]

Domestic cricket? Whats that? BCCI thugs are either busy fending off Lalit Modi's threats or planning for IPL/CL t20. Had they been serious about Indian cricket, the first thing they will revamp is the NCA program which is nearly redundant these days , then look at a proper long term plan for specialist coaching for young pacers, spinners, batsmen and keepers. And then there's the urgent need of relaying the dead pitches used in domestic cricket. But as long as the $$$s are flowing in, who bothers about all that.

[Cricketics]

Indian Domestic Season 2010-11 Thread So domestic season will be starting shortly Irani trophy would be coming soon then the season.. So which players are you looking forward too??

[Chandan]

It is unfortunate that domestic cricket continues to suffer because of BCCI’s commercial diktats. While players can now make comfortable living just by playing domestic cricket, it is a sad reflection of the way cricket administration is run in the country when an upcoming talented youngster like Saurabh Tiwary makes a statement about how 30-odd runs in an IPL game gives him more prominence than a 100 in the Ranji Trophy! Ever since India achieved its numero uno status in Tests, the BCCI suddenly felt a strong urge to organise more Tests in India.

Strong urge to organise more test and even diluting their Icon series in the process like the Border Gavaskar series. Will this mini series be called B-G series as well? And how come Irani trophy is coinciding with tests? At least this trophy should be clear of any other home event as it is the most special domestic tie.

[saneindian]

Rest of India team could look like this : Mukund, Dhawan, Kohli, Pujara, Saurabh Tiwary, Pandey, Parthiv/DK ©, Ashwin, Chawla, and any 2 out of PK/Munaf/Mithun/Sreesanth/Vinay Kumar/Umesh Yadav/Unadkat/Ishant/Irfan (depending upon who gets picked for the Indian team playing the 1st test with Australia) Mumbai will be without Sachin, Zaheer and Rohit (expect Rohit to be picked for the Indian team vs Australia in place of Saha).

[Sooda]

Will be good to see if Pandey can keep the good form going. Also if Abdullah possibly and Chawla have good seasons they can push for India slots at least in ODIs

[Mr. Wicket]

Big season this for the likes of Mukund, Rahane and Pujara. Whichever one of them starts off best may be looking at a test cap around the time NZ visit IMO. I am intrigued to see who steps up in terms of spin. Powar had a very hit-or-miss season last time, really needs some consistency here if he is going to try and challenge the likes of Ojha and Bhajji for a test spot. I am not convinced at all by Ashwin, and really hope we see some other young spinners make a push. If Ashwin gets a test cap, we may as well just call up Aashish Kapoor. :headshake: More later.

[sreej]

Rest of India team could look like this : Mukund, Dhawan, Kohli, Pujara, Saurabh Tiwary, Pandey, Parthiv/DK ©, Ashwin, Chawla, and any 2 out of PK/Munaf/Mithun/Sreesanth/Vinay Kumar/Umesh Yadav/Unadkat/Ishant/Irfan (depending upon who gets picked for the Indian team playing the 1st test with Australia) Mumbai will be without Sachin, Zaheer and Rohit (expect Rohit to be picked for the Indian team vs Australia in place of Saha).

Rohit doesn't deserve to be picked in place of anyone. I would rather have Tiwary and Kohli playing in the ODI's. In test's Raina and Yuvraj are battling it out for the same spot so Rohit doesn't even have chance. Would love to see Unadkat playing for ROI... Irfan Pathan too. Who knows, aybe he's been working on his bowling (and pace) over these months. I am looking forward to watching most of your batting picks in action though.

[saneindian]

Big season this for the likes of Mukund, Rahane and Pujara. Whichever one of them starts off best may be looking at a test cap around the time NZ visit IMO. I am intrigued to see who steps up in terms of spin. Powar had a very hit-or-miss season last time, really needs some consistency here if he is going to try and challenge the likes of Ojha and Bhajji for a test spot. I am not convinced at all by Ashwin, and really hope we see some other young spinners make a push. If Ashwin gets a test cap, we may as well just call up Aashish Kapoor. :headshake: More later.

I have a feeling this could be a huge season for the old hands like Agarkar, Murali Kartik etc as well. Given the lows our fast bowling stcoks have sunk to, it shouldn't be a surprise if Agarkar makes a comeback to the ODI team and is part of the WC squad as well.

[Herculus]

This thread should be at the top & sticky

[Chandan]

Yuvraj to lead Rest of India squad Calcutta: No Bengal player has managed to find a berth in the Rest of India squad that will take on Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai in the Irani Trophy, in Jaipur, from October 1. The squad for the two-Test series also has no representation from Bengal. The squad, led by Yuvraj Singh, includes Jharkhand’s Saurabh Tiwary. In fact, Tiwary is the only representative from East Zone to feature in the side. Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha and Ashok Dinda have all been considered for A tours in the recent past, but their performances have been unable to enthuse the national selectors. There’s no doubt that the upcoming Ranji Trophy season will be a big challenge for the youngsters. REST OF INDIA SQUAD Yuvraj Singh (capt.), S. Badrinath, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Abhinav Mukund, Shikhar Dhawan, Saurabh Tiwary, Manish Pandey, Parthiv Patel, Piyush Chawla, R. Ashwin, Abhimanyu Mithun, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav.

[saneindian]

Mumbai squad could look like Jaffer ©, Kukreja, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Khanvilkar, Nayar, Agarkar, Powar, Abdulla, Dhawal Kulkarni, Salvi Will be a very important match for likes of Yuvraj, Kohli, Rohit, Nayar and Agarkar.

[IKnowU]

Mumbai squad could look like Jaffer ©, Kukreja, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Khanvilkar, Nayar, Agarkar, Powar, Abdulla, Dhawal Kulkarni, Salvi Will be a very important match for likes of Yuvraj, Kohli, Rohit, Nayar and Agarkar.

:hysterical::hysterical:

[Sachinism]

Unadkat will pwn Mumbai :aha:

[SachDan]

:hysterical::hysterical:

Dude, the way our front line bowlers have been performing of late in ODIS, it won't be a bad idea to give him a chance if he's bowling well in domestic cricket.

[IKnowU]

Dude' date=' the way our front line bowlers have been performing of late in ODIS, it won't be a bad idea to give him a chance if he's bowling well in domestic cricket.[/quote'] But could you imagine.......after 03 WC we would have done a full circle by having Nehra, Agarkar and Zaheer spearheading the 11WC after trying out a millions phassst bowlers.:cantstop: