'Forget fast bowlers, even batters with IPL contracts don’t want to play Ranji Trophy' - State associations helpless over players prioritising IPL

As the kickoff of IPL 2024 looms on the cricketing fraternity, there's a growing focus on striking the right balance between domestic cricket and the lucrative extravaganza. Despite the BCCI's recent reminders to prioritize domestic cricket ahead of the IPL, a notable group of players seems to have overlooked the directive.

An analysis done by The Indian Express brings to light a concerning trend among IPL players, as 56 out of 165 players have not taken part in any Ranji Trophy matches this past season (2023-24). Moreover, 25 players featured in just one Ranji Trophy match, underlining a lack of dedication to India's premier first-class cricket tournament. While some argue that players might skip multi-day matches to minimize injury risks and extend their white-ball careers, the absence of a concrete BCCI policy also brings up questions about accountability.

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The newspaper interviewed Brigadier Anil Gupta, part of the administration team overseeing the J&K unit, who voiced concerns that the BCCI's choice to hold the IPL auction before the Ranji Trophy is having a detrimental impact on the prestigious domestic competition. He stated that not only fast bowlers, but batters with IPL contracts have also not wanted to play the Ranji Trophy, which is quite a pressing issue.

“This is a matter of concern. Forget fast bowlers (who are injury-prone), even batters with IPL contracts don’t want to play Ranji Trophy. We have requested the BCCI to conduct the IPL auction after the Ranji Trophy. We are suffering because of it,” Anil Gupta said.

Another official highlighted the absence of a clear policy or fitness protocol, resulting in numerous players opting out of Ranji games, citing injuries as the reason.

“The BCCI allowed them to get away with it. With no clear policy or fitness protocol, the state units were helpless in forcing IPL stars to play first-class cricket,” a senior state unit official said.

Among prominent Indian players, Hardik Pandya hasn't participated in the red-ball tournament since 2018, while his elder brother Krunal Pandya opted out of the Ranji Trophy this year. Ishan Kishan opted out of Ranji Trophy selection for Jharkhand despite head coach Rahul Dravid's insistence to participate in the tournament for him to be considered for selection to the national team. Ishan had been away from the Indian team since last December as he withdrew from the South Africa tour ahead of the two-match Test series, allegedly due to mental health concerns. 

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BCCI's recent actions to promote players prioritizing domestic cricket again

In response, BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed a 'Test cricket incentive scheme' to encourage players to prioritize red-ball cricket. Within this framework, players participating in more than 50% of Test matches in a season will be rewarded with significant financial bonuses, earning INR 30 lakh per match for members in the playing XI and INR 15 lakh for those on the bench. Individuals engaged in more than 75% of Test matches will receive enhanced incentives, providing a substantial uplift for players committed to Test cricket.