Indian domestic season 2006-07

[Jungle Jumbo]

I suppose that even if there is a rule, it wouldn't be hard to change with a couple of handy rupees. Would be for the better - I get the impression that, as in county cricket, there are a few substandard players knocking around in the Ranji, even in the Elite League.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by Jungle Jumbo

I suppose that even if there is a rule, it wouldn't be hard to change with a couple of handy rupees. Would be for the better - I get the impression that, as in county cricket, there are a few substandard players knocking around in the Ranji, even in the Elite League.

Are you talking about foreign prospects or locals? If the latter, here's a list I can think of.

• Mumbai: Can't think of one, everyone is worth a place, bar some under-performing youngsters.
• Baroda: Their openers are past their best. One of them was picked for all zonal and A-team selections, but did little of note. Can't comment on seamer Rakesh Patel, who was once a prospect and even a squad member, but never got a match for India. Looks a small man.
• Gujarat: Thankfully Kirat Damani has retired, but the whole team is just average, though not too many are around for so long.
• Maharashtra: Easy one– Hrishikesh Kanitkar hit a winning four in a Dhaka final and did little else after that. He was even a replacement for the then slow-scoring Rahul Dravid, and we all know how useful he was then. He's struggled since the team was promoted to Elite.
• Tamil Nadu: Maybe if you call Badani and Sriram substandard. Both have been disappointing when they played for India. There's little MR Shrinivas, the medium-pacer, who's been around for long.
• Hyderabad: I'd be compelled to say, half the team makes this list!
• Andhra: One KS Sahabuddin made the South Zone selection. That's about it. We still find MSK Prasad wicketkeeping, though he's not too bad, given a raw Parthiv Patel got some matches for India.
• Karnataka: There was Somasunder, Sunil Joshi, Dodda Ganesh, but now KSCA is pushing for youngsters in the side.
• Railways: A lot of these players may be substandard, even the whole side, but they combine well. They're just right for the job.
• Uttar Pradesh: We sometimes find veterans like Rizwan Shamshad, GK Pandey and Ashish Zaidi in the same XI. Pandey got a match or two for India in the late 90s, while Zaidi was once a fast bowler. But again, this is one team where average individuals come together for above-average performances.
• Bengal: Rohan Gavaskar is the most obvious name that comes to mind, though his initial performances for India were good and he was treated rather unfairly by the team management. There's spinner Sourashish Lahiri and stock seamer Shukla, who plays as a batsman now.
• Delhi: This is one team whose selection is plagued by politics. Star sons often make this side, and flatter to deceive.
• Punjab: Dinesh Mongia comes to mind. He's got picked for India, and he wishes to justify his selection, but he's not that special. He's been found out in the early 2000's, and there's not much he can do now.

Thankfully, some teams, such as TN, Karnataka and Haryana, are going in for more youngsters in their teams. You won't find too many of these relics in the scene now.

[Arjun]

Now, we hear that there will be day-night matches, live coverage and even marketing and sponsorship for Indian domestic matches, just like it is in England and Australia. Great news. Let's just hope we don't end up seeing them on DD Sport, because their coverage of the Bradman 20/20 cup was dreadful.

[Arjun]

News was in a day ago that the Uttar Pradesh Ranji side will play two ODI's in the West Indies. Not much, but still something. Hopefully we'll see a full-strength UP side, with all internationals, in that event, playing to win both matches. A lot of us, however, would be waiting for the match between them (Ranji winners) and the Qaid-e-Azam Trophy (Pak) winners, if it will happen.

[chris.hinton]

It could be a good year for Indian cricket

[Arjun]

Now we'll see UP and Sialkot facing each other in India. The link is on the main page of CricInfo. As for the Challenger series, let's get this clear. Merely playing two or three matches won't decide whether a player is ready for India or not. Hemang Badani was the leading run-scorer in the Challenger series in the absence of Sachin and Dravid, but in the following series against England, he looked totally out of depth and Nasser's men found a weak link in the Indian batting lineup. Sarandeep was a leading wicket-taker there, but lokoed a misfit in ODI's when he got his first match in the series. The less prolific Yuvraj, Kaif and Bangar did a lot better when they played. This series should merely serve as a workout for the Indian main team and if players outside perform exceptionally well, they may get a look-in.

[adharcric]

It definitely is a good way of spotting talent though. Piyush Chawla, VRV Singh and Robin Uthappa all got noticed in the Challenger Trophy. This year, it could be Shahbaz Nadeem's turn, if he gets the nod. Of course, there are intriguing cases such as that of Venugopal Rao, who has excelled at the domestic level and even made 250-300 runs in last year's Challenger Trophy and has never shown that kind of ODI form wearing the national colours since then.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by adharcric

It definitely is a good way of spotting talent though. Piyush Chawla, VRV Singh and Robin Uthappa all got noticed in the Challenger Trophy. This year, it could be Shahbaz Nadeem's turn, if he gets the nod. Of course, there are intriguing cases such as that of Venugopal Rao, who has excelled at the domestic level and even made 250-300 runs in last year's Challenger Trophy and has never shown that kind of ODI form wearing the national colours since then.

Frankly, the Challenger selections are often debatable. We've seen the original Challenger selections, with the Indian main team, then the reserve team, then newcomers making three sides. It started going wrong when they tried to get some players from India Seniors to other teams to make the series more competitive, maybe to make this 'exhibition series' into a selection platform, and it's not helped. Frankly, two or three matches cannot decide a national team, and the most they can do is give them a workout. If the Indian main team does well, that's good, and if other players do well against them, they may have a chance to make the national team. Frankly, events such as ROD and Deodhat should decide the national team, not this one.

[adharcric]

Originally Posted by Arjun

Frankly, the Challenger selections are often debatable. We've seen the original Challenger selections, with the Indian main team, then the reserve team, then newcomers making three sides. It started going wrong when they tried to get some players from India Seniors to other teams to make the series more competitive, maybe to make this 'exhibition series' into a selection platform, and it's not helped. Frankly, two or three matches cannot decide a national team, and the most they can do is give them a workout. If the Indian main team does well, that's good, and if other players do well against them, they may have a chance to make the national team. Frankly, events such as ROD and Deodhat should decide the national team, not this one.

Although I agree with you that the Challenger Trophy matches should not be reason for a national call-up, they give young, talented players a platform to get noticed. After that, it's up to them to perform consistently in domestic cricket and earn a selection. Performing against the best in the nation should certainly mean something, even if it's only in a game or two. This can also be a good time for guys in a position battle to stake a claim. For example, Kaif vs Raina or Uthappa vs Dhawan vs Gambhir or Patel vs RPS vs Sreesanth. Definitely an important tournament.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by adharcric

Although I agree with you that the Challenger Trophy matches should not be reason for a national call-up, they give young, talented players a platform to get noticed. After that, it's up to them to perform consistently in domestic cricket and earn a selection. Performing against the best in the nation should certainly mean something, even if it's only in a game or two. This can also be a good time for guys in a position battle to stake a claim. For example, Kaif vs Raina or Uthappa vs Dhawan vs Gambhir or Patel vs RPS vs Sreesanth. Definitely an important tournament.

We've seen how these tournaments can throw some rather unusual results at times, such as three successive times when the Indian senior team failed to win the series, and also some of the unusual heroes it spawned. We've seen Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia the left-arm spinner and now Venugopal Rao, all of them do well in the series, then flop when playing for India. We've also seens several selections that just made up the numbers, and none of them are even remotely likely to play for India. Let's hope that doesn't happen this time.

As for the rest of the season, I wouldn't be surprised if Railways won the Plate Trophy easily. This season, Haryana and Karnataka will be the teams to watch.

[adharcric]

Originally Posted by Arjun

We've seen how these tournaments can throw some rather unusual results at times, such as three successive times when the Indian senior team failed to win the series, and also some of the unusual heroes it spawned. We've seen Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia the left-arm spinner and now Venugopal Rao, all of them do well in the series, then flop when playing for India. We've also seens several selections that just made up the numbers, and none of them are even remotely likely to play for India. Let's hope that doesn't happen this time.

As for the rest of the season, I wouldn't be surprised if Railways won the Plate Trophy easily. This season, Haryana and Karnataka will be the teams to watch.

Haryana for me as well ... Sunny Singh, Sumit Sharma, Joginder Sharma, Amit Mishra
Punjab also with Uday Kaul and VRV Singh looking to put on a show

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by adharcric

Haryana for me as well ... Sunny Singh, Sumit Sharma, Joginder Sharma, Amit Mishra
Punjab also with Uday Kaul and VRV Singh looking to put on a show

You mentioned VRV Singh, we can always hope he'll finish the full season and lead the wickets tally. I don't know who Uday Kaul is, but there's someone named Ishan Malhatra who outshone Sodhi with bat and ball, but hardly got a match. Sodhi is now playing as a proper batsman and bits-and-pieces bowler, and his chances of getting another India cap may be a shut case.

Oh yes, maybe this is the time for Mumbai's under-achieving youngsters to stand up and be counted.

[Jungle Jumbo]

Originally Posted by Arjun

You mentioned VRV Singh, we can always hope he'll finish the full season and lead the wickets tally. I don't know who Uday Kaul is, but there's someone named Ishan Malhatra who outshone Sodhi with bat and ball, but hardly got a match. Sodhi is now playing as a proper batsman and bits-and-pieces bowler, and his chances of getting another India cap may be a shut case.

Oh yes, maybe this is the time for Mumbai's under-achieving youngsters to stand up and be counted.

Keeper-batsman (OD specialist I think) who opened for India Under-19 in England this year.

[adharcric]

Originally Posted by Jungle Jumbo

Keeper-batsman (OD specialist I think) who opened for India Under-19 in England this year.

He can keep wickets in one-day matches but usually plays as a specialist opener in the longer format. Should open for Punjab alongisde Ravneet Ricky once again.

[Jungle Jumbo]

Gough Hints at Maharashtra Move

Who saw that one coming? I know there has been a fair bit of talk about overseas players in India, but you would have thought a young batsman looking to develop against spin would be more likely, not an old-stager like Gough. He'd be a decent signing for anyone though, provided his fitness is up to it.