Coach Gautam Gambhir’s first press conference after the defeat in the Sydney Test and Border Gavaskar Trophy had a direct message to the senior players of the team – no Ranji, no Test. Are players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma the direct target of many stalwarts like coach Gambhir, Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar? Are these questions also being raised because Virat played his last Ranji match about 12 years ago (in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad) and Rohit Sharma played his last match about 9 years ago (in November 2015 against Uttar Pradesh in Wankhede) in) played?
Star cricketers stayed away from Ranji
However, the condition of other star players of Team India is not much different from this. In the last 4 years Mohd. Shami including Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have played only four Ranji matches. Mo. These days Shami is trying to make a comeback through domestic cricket only.
Strict message to players
In the last press conference of the Border Gavaskar series, Gautam Gambhir said sternly, “I would always like all the players to play domestic cricket. Domestic cricket should be given so much importance. If they are available for domestic cricket and they give importance to red ball cricket. Everyone should play domestic cricket. This is very clear.”
According to the latest report, this can be kept in mind when the team is selected for the next World Test Championship cycle 2025-27. Former BCCI secretary (and current ICC chairman) Jay Shah had said in February this year, “The players have been informed over phone and I am also going to write a letter soon that if your chief selector, your coach and your If the captain wants you, you will have to play red ball cricket.”
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar had clarified while talking to Star Sports, “I would like to see how many players will be seen taking part in the Ranji Trophy cycle starting from January 23.”
Former Test cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar have also given advice to these legendary players. While Irfan Pathan talks about cultural change in Indian cricket by giving the example of the great Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar has given a practical advice. He believes that Virat and Rohit should participate in county cricket before the tour of England (20 June-4 August – India vs England, 5 Test series). Otherwise, especially for Virat, the problem outside the off stump is going to remain the same.
‘The solution will not be found through Ranji alone’
Former Test cricketer Robin Singh Jr believes that playing strategies on flat wickets will not end the problems of the batsmen. He believes that players will have to prepare according to the pitch. He also says that players do not even have time to play Ranji.
‘Players are forgetting to play defensive cricket’
Former Test cricketer Rajesh Chauhan goes a step further and says, “Players have forgotten to play defensive shots in Test cricket. This has happened not only with all the players in India but also with all the players in the world. It also happened with the Australian batsmen in BGT. But they Bowled well and won.”
Rajesh Chauhan emphatically says, “Nitish Reddy was technically the best batsman in India this time. He kept playing even on the back foot. But now you will ruin him by playing 20-20.” It is being said that the officials are also believing that Ranji may not be the complete solution to the problems of the batsmen. But Ranji can correct his basics again.
Rajesh Chauhan also says, “The coaching staff made a lot of mistakes. When did they ever tell the batsmen what they were doing wrong? How can it be corrected? There are many better coaches in India who can tell these things to the players. Are.” He also said that there was a great batsman like Sunil Gavaskar, he too could have been asked, but it does not seem that there would have been any discussion with him.
This year, India’s most important tour for Test matches will be in England, where the Indian batsmen will have a tough test. But before that there are important matches like India vs England ODI, T-20 and Champions Trophy. Different formats of cricket will require different preparation. But it seems that the path of international cricket will now be decided only through domestic cricket.
Team Schedule- India’s International Matches in 2025
- 22 January-12 February- India vs England, 5 T20 and 3 ODI series in India
- 19 February – 9 March, India’s matches in Champions Trophy, Dubai
- 20 June-4 August – India vs England, 5 Test series
- India tour of Bangladesh in August
- Windies tour of India in October
- India’s tour of South Africa in November-December
Star player in red ball domestic cricket
- Virat Kohli- Last Ranji match in November 2012 against UP
- Rohit Sharma- Last Ranji match in November 2015 against UP
- Shubman Gill- Duleep Trophy match in September 2024-(India-A VS India-B)
- Rishamb Pant- Duleep Trophy match in September 2024-(India-A VS India-B)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Duleep Trophy match in September 2024 – (India-A VS India-B)
- KL Rahul- Duleep Trophy Match in September 2024-(India-A VS India-B)
- Mo. Shami- Last Ranji match against Madhya Pradesh in November 2024
Keep an eye on Virat-Rohit
Now everyone’s eyes will definitely be on whether Virat Kohli is seen in Saurashtra vs Delhi match and Rohit Sharma is seen in Mumbai vs Jammu Kashmir match in the sixth round match starting from January 23 or not. And, if we play here, what flowers do we feed?
Also read: “When he was batting…” Sam Constance made a big revelation about Virat Kohli
