The charm of the Ranji Trophy
A chance to throw down a few balls at a batsman eager for practice; extended photo-ops with international cricketers; and the opportunity to view a new talent before he is spotted by the rest of the world - the Ranji Trophy is fine the way it is,
Nitin Sundar
25-Feb-2013
A chance to throw down a few balls at a batsman eager for practice; extended photo-ops with international cricketers; and the opportunity to view a new talent before he is spotted by the rest of the world - the Ranji Trophy is fine the way it is, writes Sandeep Dwivedi in the Indian Express.
The only way they will fill the stands for a non-India cricket game is when there are cheerleaders on field, superstars dancing in the stands and when they are presented with a format that guarantees a “thrill a minute”. They will beg, borrow and steal to get tickets for these games. They will get insulted and assaulted to get into the stadium. They will use dirty urinals and go without water during the game. But throw an invite to sprawl on the lawns and enjoy a Ranji game for free and there will be no takers.Maybe, Ranji’s informality breeds contempt.
Nitin Sundar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo