Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar voiced his dissatisfaction with the decision taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Indian cricket board has once again ignored the Ranji Trophy and prioritized organizing more T20I series and India A tours in between.
The scheduling clashes between India A team’s matches and the Ranji Trophy fixtures left senior cricketers like Gavaskar completely furious.
The ongoing Ranji Trophy marks the 90th edition of the tournament that commenced on Sunday (October 11) and has recorded several noteworthy performances so far.
Key Players Are Forced to Miss Out on Ranji Trophy
Sunil Gavaskar explained how the current structure of the First-Class and List A matches has made it hard for players to take part and perform well in domestic cricket tournaments.
“See! Before they tour Australia, there will be a 4-match T20 series in South Africa. Also, an ‘A’ team will tour Australia next month. So, it is unlikely that the core set of 50 to 60 players will be available for their state teams in a top-tier national tournament— the Ranji Trophy,” Gavaskar stated.
As India A will tour South Africa in November, it is understood that several young talents would snub their Ranji Trophy commitment, hoping to earn their maiden India call-up.
3 Reasons For Sunil Gavaskar’s Concerns Over India A Matches
Here are the three main reasons that highlight why Sunil Gavaskar questioned the tournament’s standards:
1.Ranji Trophy Season 90 vs A Teams Schedule Conflict
The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 commenced on Sunday (October 11) as it conflicted with the third and last match of the India A vs Australia A series.
Because of this reason, several key players had to represent India A which includes the names such as:
- Priyansh Arya
- Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain)
- Rajat Patidar
In other words, the above high-profile players could not represent their state teams in the Ranji Trophy.
Here is what Sunil Gavaskar had to say:
“Certainly! The Elite Division tournament’s standards have increased to a great extent. Earlier, the teams that weren’t very competitive are now winning the trophies. This is indeed a noticeable fact when Indian players hardly participate in domestic tournaments and prioritize ‘A’ team series and tournaments.
At times, it becomes difficult to evaluate how good the players have been when they give their best individual performances.
It is a fact that several top performers in domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy struggle to contribute their best when they represent India. Some lose their place in the team instantly, while others manage to inch closer to selection but fail to establish themselves as the regular players of the Indian team,” Gavaskar explained.
2. IPL Popularity and Its Effect on Ranji Trophy’s Importance
Sunil Gavaskar points out the harsh reality of how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has reduced the priority of Ranji Trophy matches.
The legendary opener questioned why other countries like Australia and England do not organize A tours if they clash with their main domestic season. However, the BCCI adopted a contrasting approach.
“No! India hasn’t given much priority to its premier domestic cricket competitions, the Ranji Trophy, compared to other major cricket nations. Just look at the way England or Australia organizes the ‘A’ tours.
Have you ever seen those big nations participate in worthless events during their domestic season? This is because their domestic seasons are too special.
Ever since IPL gained popularity, the Ranji Trophy has lost its importance and attention. We hope to see some positive changes from next season rather than expecting too much,” Gavaskar added.
3. Fear of Weakened Competition in Ranji Matches
Sunil Gavaskar argued that without key Indian players in the Ranji Trophy, the entire tournament becomes weakened. In other words, he explained that mediocre players compile mammoth runs or grab more wickets just because of the strong opposition’s absence.
“Yeah! You may not find an easy solution. Particularly, the ‘A’ team matches could help determine the player who can succeed at the international level and who can remain a top performer in Ranji matches.
I believe there should be more ‘A team’ matches to be hosted. However, these matches should not be scheduled during domestic competitions, especially when the Ranji Trophy is taking place.
If such a trend continues, a weakened competition in Ranji won’t be any more surprising. For example, a batter may accumulate 2000+ runs and a bowler may claim 100+ wickets in a single Ranji season.
Final Opinion
Sunil Gavaskar fears that scheduling India A matches during the Ranji Trophy can weaken the domestic tournament structure.
Some lackluster performers conclude the season with more runs or wickets without any high-intensity competition. However, the real struggle comes when replicating a similar kind of performance after earning maiden call-ups for the senior team.
Rising talents like Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rajat Patidar have been busy with their India A commitments and missed out on an opportunity to represent their state team.
Once again, the key players will certainly miss the upcoming domestic matches as the India A squad will tour New Zealand for three unofficial tests scheduled between October 24 and November 10.
Gavaskar’s statement sends a clear message to BCCI, suggesting that the India A schedule should not conflict with premium domestic cricket tournaments.
Overall, the separate scheduling of India A and Ranji Trophy fixtures helps identify future international stars.