Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Dressing room leakage in Thiruvananthapuram puts Kerala Cricket under scrutiny

The ongoing Ranji Trophy match between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh at the St Xaviers College ground in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram has once again seen persistent issues with the ground's facilities. A heavy downpour on the third day of the match led to severe water leakage in the player's dressing room.

Consequently, the day's play was called off early, thereby raising concerns over the suitability of the venue for first-class cricket. According to the visuals shared, the dressing room at the Thumba ground was severely affected by the heavy downpour, with water leaking from the roof in multiple places. Moreover, the players' kit bags were reportedly damaged due to the leakage, further adding to the inconvenience.

This is not the first time the Thumba ground has faced issues over its infrastructure and amenities. Last season, former India batter Manoj Tiwary, while playing his final Ranji Trophy match for Bengal, voiced his concerns about the ground's facilities, particularly the lack of privacy in the dressing rooms.

Manoj Tiwary had earlier raised concerns about ground at Thumba

The recent incident is the latest in a series of issues that have caused worry in Ranji Trophy venues across the country. In the opening round of the 2024-25 season, play was disrupted at the Holkar Stadium in Indore due to the MPCA's inability to manage the ground effectively after overnight rain. Similarly, the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna faced outfield issues during Karnataka's match against Bihar in the previous round.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Karnataka vs Bengal, Round 4, Day 3 Review 

The issues at the Thumba ground are warning of a larger problem affecting Ranji Trophy venues across the country. The inability of some state associations to maintain adequate ground facilities has led to disruptions in play and has raised questions about the overall standard of India's premier domestic cricket tournament.