Plenty riding on the Ranji Trophy

A promo for the domestic tournament in Australia till last year used to proudly proclaim the land Down Under as being the breedingground for world-champions. And while, its counterpart in India cannot afford such a hyperbole as yet, Dhoni & Co will be well aware that sustaining the No. 1 status will depend heavily on the bench-strength they are capable of cultivating, adding that much more significance to the 77th edition of the Ranji Trophy.

"Talent is nothing. I can’t stop people from saying that I am talented. That’s their view. In cricket, talent gets you nowhere, it is the runs and the wickets that matter. That’s how it has been for ages and that’s how it is going to be. The fact remains that I need runs and runs and more runs. Only runs will keep me in contention for a regular spot in the Indian team.”

“Things are totally different in Assam from what they are in Mumbai. When you play for Mumbai you don’t have to worry about the quality of your fellow players and their readiness for the big stage. But at Assam, there is a sense of anxiety that is gripping me. Questions like if the team will do well in the Elite Group and if they are ready for the big challenge are coming to my mind,” said Muzumdar.