Ranji Trophy to revert back to its original home and away format

After a change in the format last season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to go back to the older format of Ranji Trophy i.e. the home and away fixtures. The decision will be finalized when it’s technical committee under the chairmanship of Sourav Ganguly meet in Kolkata on August 2. A majority of the state associations have demanded to revive the old format of at least four home matches for the upcoming season.

Until the 2015-16 season, Ranji Trophy was played with the home and away format. However, the officials decided to bring a change in the way the tournament was conducted and hence decided to try out something new. It had a lot to do with the home team dishing out pitches that assisted them which left the visitors with a diminished chance of scripting a win.

Captains object

During the BCCI’s Annual Conclave held in Dharamshala in 2016, the officials decided to induct the neutral venue system. It received positive responses and hence was implemented in the previous season. The format, however, was not supported by skippers from various teams. They gave negative feedback of the same during the Captain’s Conclave in Mumbai earlier this year.

In an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI), speaking on how the new format had a toll on the players, a BCCI spokesperson said, “Most of the states have already made it clear that we should go back to the old format of at least four home matches. The last year became an ordeal for the teams as they were constantly traveling for three and half months. It made them homesick,”

He further added, “Hopefully, chairman of technical committee Ganguly will take a call. That’s the main point on the agenda apart from discussing the Conclave report.”

Following the failure of the new format, the 84th season of the prestigious domestic tournament in all probability is expected to revert back to its erstwhile format this year. With the home-away format was in place, the complaints about the home teams doctoring the pitches can be kept at bay.