Indian Domestic Cricket Structure Set For A Restructuring

Ranji Trophy might get a overhaul if the recommendations by the Technical Committee of BCCI are implemented. Ranji Trophy is India’s most important domestic tournament, which has not for many years been the breeding ground for young talent. But in the last few years with advent of T20 cricket, Ranji trophy has seen its importance dwindling.

In its recommendations the Technical Committee has proposed that existing two tier structure of Ranji Trophy to be changed have a three tier/group system where the 27 Ranji teams will be equally divided into groups of nine. Group A will consist of the strongest nine teams while Group C will make up the weakest nine teams. Presently, six teams from Elite group and two from Plate group make it to the quarter-finals. In the proposed system three from Groups A and B and two from C will make it to the quarter-finals. In Ranji Trophy presently eight teams play seven matches each, seven teams play six matches each and 12 teams play five matches. According to the recommendations, each team will play eight matches before the knockout stage.

The Technical committee lead by Sourav Ganguly also proposed the knockout round of matches be five-day long with a provision to extend them into a sixth day if first innings lead has not yet been achieved. Also, the proposals include six points instead of earlier five for an outright win, bowlers permitted to bowl two bouncers an over and at least one bowler being allowed to bowl 12 overs in one-dayers.