The story of domestic cricket in India isn’t much different from that of small-town India: vying for recognition and hoping to make a mark nationally © Sportz Solutions

Dear Readers,

Nothing gives me more pleasure than penning down my thoughts on the great Indian domestic season. The story isn’t much different from that of small-town India: vying for recognition and hoping to make a mark nationally. With aspirations, come trials, fascinating and enduring. This blog is indeed an effort to bring those many untold yet intriguing stories about first-class cricket to the forefront, and hence give you readers an opportunity to get to know Indian cricket closely.

A good parameter to determine how serious state cricket associations are about a lacklustre, bland, and apparently irrelevant domestic match is simply the intent and the initiative that has gone into organising it. Sample this for instance: in the North Zone, all matches are still played during the day, on a venue with two grounds, accommodating two matches simultaneously. The facilities, whatever little, are of course divided between four teams, with two of them being forced to sit in makeshift dressing rooms made in the form of tents. And if that doesn’t speak enough about the abysmal affairs, all four teams and the staff share only two toilets. Of course, the managers of the show would have wanted to cut down ‘undue’ work and hassle and so have continued to plan such games year after year. What is put on stake though is – a first-class player’s honour, the quality of the show, and the state cricket association’s reputation. Clearly then, neither the game nor the player is the real stakeholder in domestic tournaments.

To my utter disbelief and pleasure, the set-up in the Central Zone is very different to the one in the North. Firstly, and more importantly, the matches here are played at an international venue, which in turn means state-of-the-art facilities for all players. Instead of going for the easier option of having two grounds and only day matches, they’ve opted to have only one ground and even have a match under lights. And since just switching on the floodlights turns a cricket match into a spectacle, the stadia too saw a modest turnout. Enthusiastic fans turned up, maybe not in huge numbers, but they did turn up to catch a glimpse of the stars and cheer for their favourite teams.

That apart, there still are potent issues lurking in the backdrop – for instance, the timing of the ongoing domestic Twenty20 tournament [the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament], being held only a week before the all important first-class season. Right now the players are practicing their throw-caution-to-the-wind skills with the white ball but are expected to switch gears in just about five days for the longer format. Most teams though, have identified the Ranji Trophy as their preferred tournament and the one that they have set their eye on, and are hence preparing accordingly. A catch-22 of sorts - players have to up the ante in Twenty20, to make sure they catch the eye of the IPL scouts, and also, get back in the groove, well in time for the longer format. It may mean playing a slightly different brand of cricket in the first round of Ranji Trophy, but then, so be it.

And then, can anyone explain why the knockouts of the Twenty20 tournament have been planned a good five months later in March? Having the league phase in October and knockouts after such a long gap makes little sense. It not only takes away the continuity but also the charm of the tournament. It’s like watching a thriller and then asking the audience to wait five months for the climax. And from the organizer’s perspective, it’s nothing short of shooting yourself in the foot. Also, what about the Twenty20 specialists, who after this tournament, may not find a place in the Ranji mix, and would be left in the lurch for four months?

Wouldn’t it be better to find a two-week window either at the end of the season or at the beginning and finish this tournament in one stretch? By having it in two halves, separated by four months, is as good as devaluing its importance and robbing it off the thrill, the format is known for.

Till next time ... goodbye.

Essentially a batsman in the traditional mould, Cheteshwar Pujara has also learnt to switch gears and adapt to the demands of the shorter format © AFP

What is tougher to deal with? Your debut match against one of the best teams in the world in front of a packed house, or the knowledge that regardless of your showing in the game, you’d only get one chance, at least for the time being? Just to add to the pressure, you got a ball that kept alarmingly low in the first innings and constantly reminded you of a letdown. You stand at the edge of the cliff; one wrong move and it might just blow up all your dreams. That’s how Cheteshwar Pujara must have felt when he walked on to the field to take guard as India’s No. 3 batsman on the last day of the second Test match against Australia in Bangalore. If there is ever what we call a ‘pressure-cooker situation’ in cricket, that was certainly one of those.

Surely then, the way you embark upon such a situation would inevitably determine the shape your career takes. These situations separate men from boys, and the way Pujara responded showed that he belonged. His feet movement was decisive, his shot selection assured, and above all, the composure with which he played must have calmed a few nerves in the dressing room.

I have seen Pujara grow as a player from close quarters. He’s a batsman in the traditional mould who prefers grinding down the opposition with solid technique and immense patience. His consistent performances were rewarded with further selections till he faced the corporate world of the IPL. He was picked for Kolkata Knight Riders, but was sent home without getting a chance, halfway through the first season. That was when he realised the need to change, quite radically, with the times. No longer was it only about notching up the runs, it was also about being flamboyant and flashy too.

That is when he must have walked the thin line of losing what he had, in pursuit of what he should have. If you try to score quickly in the longer format, there’s a good possibility of sacrificing big runs and if that happens, you’re surely doomed. You may impress a franchise or two with your strike-rate but it is only the big runs that would impress the selectors. But to his credit he took it as a challenge and learned to switch gears. His strike-rate improved appreciably while he continued to score tons. His List A stats were equally impressive as his first-class ones, which led to him being made the captain of the India A team touring England. He not only led the team with success in the shorter format but also returned as the highest run scorer.

While he’s made a good start to his international career, he is most likely to be reduced to being a tourist for some time. Despite his success in the shorter format, he’s unlikely to be picked for ODIs which means that he will have no international exposure till someone else in the Test XI pulls a muscle. That’s not at all encouraging, begging a question to be asked -- if Pujara is good enough to lead India’s second-best team and also scores more runs than everyone else, then why can’t he be considered for the shorter format? I’m not saying that he walks into the full-strength ODI team, but is at least given the right of admission into the one which is going to face the Aussies, which of course is giving a miss to the frontrunners. For a player to keep evolving as a cricketer it is mandatory to throw constant challenges at him and that can only happen if you feature in the playing XI.

"Genuine efforts must be made to sustain a potentially successful property" © Cricinfo Ltd

A fiery Sreesanth bowled a rather fine delivery, and in his follow-through, tried to intimidate the batsman. Unfortunately for him, the batsman happened to be Sachin Tendulkar who got stuck into Sreesanth. What followed was a flurry of boundaries as the rookie was shown his place in the man’s world. Another game, this time in Mohali; young Piyush Chawla came out of nowhere to breach the master’s defence with his googly. He immediately became a household name and the player for the future. After all he had dismissed Tendulkar.

This is the story of the Challenger trophy on two different occasions. The tournament was introduced to give the best 36 in the country, a chance to play against each other under lights. It was as close as one could get to play an international match against or with the top stars. The Challenger trophy grew in stature as people started flocking the stadiums and even the broadcaster got decent numbers. Since other 50-over domestic tournaments are rarely played under lights and to packed houses, it was a wonderful opportunity for the youngsters. While for the selectors, it was a chance to have a first-hand knowledge of the young and upcoming cricketers in the country.

The Corporate Trophy, another tournament introduced by the BCCI last year, too had a lot of potential and benefits, both on the field and off it. It involved all the big corporate teams in the country, and hence ensured not only a good competition, but also jobs for a lot of cricketers. The tournament rules meant that companies had to start employing players through the sports-quota and not make do with players playing for them on stipend. And for the big corporate houses, especially those who are already involved in the IPL, like Reliance and India Cements, it meant doing something worthwhile outside the IPL.

This is the story of two successful 50-overs domestic tournaments which promised and delivered, yet fizzled out in due course of time. The reason isn’t hard to pin down - this year’s edition of the Challenger trophy is played at a time when India is locking horns with Australia in a Test series, meaning that the best 16 players would not be available to participate in the tournament. The timing of the tournament has defeated the very purpose of its inception. Since playing under lights is no longer a catch for the domestic player, post the IPL, the only lure is to compete with the stalwarts, an opportunity the Challenger Trophy offered. After all how difficult would it be to find a four-day window to hold one of the most important domestic tournaments?

And then the case of the Corporate Trophy which involved more teams this year; however bigger is not always better. All the teams played three consecutive 50-over games in three days, with the top team in each group making it to the knockouts. How does one expect the quality of cricket to be good when you play every day? Obviously some of the games became a drag and failed to produce quality cricket. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if some of these teams choose not to take part next year.

The point is simple – genuine efforts must be made to sustain a potentially successful property; not only to safeguard its sanctity, but also to keep both the players and the viewers hooked. And if the calendar doesn’t allow a show, dump it, otherwise it becomes obligatory and lacklustre.

The Mohali pitch has not been kind to the bowlers © AFP

I remember playing a Duleep Trophy match against West Zone at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. It was a classic Mohali track with pace, bounce and enough lateral movement to keep the batsmen guessing and, for once, making the bowlers believe that being a bowler wasn’t that bad a thing. Faster men ruled the match but good batting was also rewarded, for bounce always helps to play shots.

Then there was the second Test match of my debut series against New Zealand at the same venue. While the track wasn’t as lively as it was for the Duleep Trophy, it had enough to keep the bowlers interested. What made the show even more exciting were the spectators who’d come out in huge numbers on all five days of the Test match despite India trailing. A lot has changed since then – the pitch is a far cry from its original spirit, turning potentially competitive games into wishy-washy affairs. The spectators too seem to have got a whiff of the bland show, and hence don’t care much about turning up and supporting their country.

The ongoing Test Match in Mohali seems to have been hit by both problems – a tame pitch and a low-key audience. The track is not even a pale shadow of what it used to be. The much talked about pace and bounce is a thing of the past. Now we witness a low, slow wicket that is not ideal for a fair competition between the bat and the ball. If it wasn’t for the SG Test ball which helps the spinners with its pronounced seam and assists the pacers with reverse swing, bowlers may start mulling over their availability for the venue.

The claims holding incessant rains responsible for the insipid pitch at Mohali may fall flat too. When India played England in 2008, it was a high scoring match that ended in a draw.

Ironically though, when the Ranji Trophy starts in three weeks, the pitch report might read quite differently. There will be an even grass covering on the track and fast bowlers will share the spoils once again. Spinners play an insignificant role for Punjab in the first class cricket. I’m not suggesting a green top against Australia, for that would be playing into their hands (like India did in 2004 at Nagpur) but a track with at least some carry and bounce won’t hurt the game. It’s rather unnerving to see the ball bounce twice to the wicket-keeper on the first day of a Test match.

Unfortunately, this comes at a time when sweeping attempts are being made to resurrect the format and challenge the spectator’s growing disenchantment. Earlier, any international match would bring the star-crazy people into the stadium but now their hunger is satiated via the IPL. No longer do they need to survive the proceedings of a dull Test match in order to get a glimpse of their favourite stars. Since the IPL has given them a taste of all that they can get from a match, the hosts need to stop taking their spectators for granted.

In order to save the longer format it’s absolutely mandatory to encourage parents to bring their kids to watch the purest form of cricket. That might mean opening the gates at a much cheaper price or perhaps allowing kids for free when accompanied by their parents. Also give them incentives like organising tennis-ball cricket matches on the ground after the day’s play, running contests during the day and a good PA system in place educating the crowd about the nuances of the game. These measures would enhance the viewing pleasure of the paying public and ensure that our cricketers aren’t playing to empty stands.