Franchise-based model the way forward for India

At a time when India's premier domestic competition, the Ranji Trophy, fields as many as 26 regional sides in two leagues, Venkat Ananth makes a strong case for a franchise-based system with fewer teams to foster excellence. In his Yahoo blog, he draws parallels with the South African model where 11 provincial teams were shortened to six franchises in a bid to narrow the gap between international and domestic standards.

From a cricketing point of view, firstly, there is likelier to be a heavy competition for places, a larger responsibility towards your side, a professional dressing-room and franchise atmosphere and since corporate ideology is largely result-oriented, it could assist incentivize performances, which is in stark contrast to the existing system, which almost presents itself as a formula a captain needs to rehearse, rinse and repeat to win the Ranji Trophy.