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Even If Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Flop, Their Ranji Trophy Presence Bodes Well For Indian Cricket

Bhargav Dixit

A-list players are returning to domestic cricket. [Source: @BCCI/X]A-list players are returning to domestic cricket. [Source: @BCCI/X]

While India captain Rohit Sharma won’t be playing another round of the Ranji Trophy, his predecessor in Virat Kohli will become the centre of attraction at the Arun Jaitley Stadium Thursday onward. Set to return to the prestigious competition after 12 years, Kohli will be facing Railways for the first time in the format.

Representing Mumbai after more than nine years, Sharma failed to change his batting fortune against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy last week. Kohli, sailing in an identical ship, will not only hog the limelight during these four days but also be expected to do what Sharma couldn’t, i.e., score impact-generating runs.


How Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Presence Benefits Ranji Trophy

Apart from Sharma and Kohli, when A-list players namely Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill return to their roots, there is an inexplicable interest among the entire ecosystem.

With more and more matches being live streamed now, fans get to follow high-profile players’ domestic performances across the nation. For those who live in the vicinity of stadiums, especially the ones who can’t afford to watch international or Indian Premier League matches, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of catching a glimpse of their favourite players.

With this extraordinary buzz putting bums on seats, although for free, several stakeholders benefit directly or indirectly. Assuming Kohli joins Delhi’s squad a day or two before the contest and attends practice session(s), you never know what could inspire a rookie player by merely bowling at him or getting to field alongside him or rubbing shoulders in the same dressing room or just mingling with him.

Take the example of Delhi captain Ayush Badoni. The total of the 25-year-old player’s first-class and List A matches are less than Kohli’s age. An IPL regular now, imagine Badoni’s confidence after a match where he’ll get to captain Kohli. If lucky, Badoni could even get to seal a tough run-chase alongside the King in addition to reading his mind for free during a live match.

Indian Cricket Stands To Benefit, Too

Last but not the least, Test cricketers’ return to the Ranji Trophy bodes well for Indian cricket as well. Considering how conveniently first-choice players have skipped domestic competitions across formats in the recent years, it was imperative for them to get back to the grind especially after the kind of performances Indian cricketers have put on display in the recent months.

With the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) tightening the screws on these players with regard to domestic cricket, it has it in it to put curbs on a questionable culture which lacks accountability on their respective parts. While it’s impossible for these players to participate in all domestic matches, playing at least a few matches in a year should be mandatory especially for non-performers at the highest level.

The foundation of these superstars’ sumptuous modern-day lifestyles lies in Indian cricket’s unparalleled domestic system. Thereby, the need to remind them of the same shouldn’t arise, ideally. With them being made to realize the same, here’s hoping that such a situation never arises with the next crop of superstars.