Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his hopes that the recent involvement of India's top Test players in the Ranji Trophy goes beyond merely fulfilling a BCCI directive and becomes a meaningful and consistent exercise.
With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and others turning out for their respective state teams since January 23, Gavaskar believes their participation brought fresh energy to the competition, boosting the profile of the prestigious domestic tournament.
While the India stars might not have had standout individual performances, their presence provided invaluable learning experiences for both teammates and opponents. Gavaskar highlighted the psychological lift for the bowlers who managed to dismiss prominent Indian batters like Jaiswal, Sharma, Kohli, and Rahul, as it would motivate them to challenge top-order batters with greater confidence in future matches.
The BCCI’s decision to mandate that national players participate in domestic cricket following their 3-1 series loss in Australia is aimed at enhancing the competition and benefiting the grassroots level. Gavaskar hopes that this move doesn't become just a box-ticking exercise but instead evolves into a regular part of India’s cricketing culture.
The participation of these star players also had a significant impact on fan attendance, with huge crowds flocking to venues like the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi to watch Virat Kohli and others play. Gavaskar noted the enthusiasm generated among young fans and expressed the hope that this would inspire the next generation of cricketers to strive for excellence.
Gavaskar concluded with a humorous note about Mumbai’s loss to Jammu and Kashmir, acknowledging the disappointment for local fans but emphasizing the overall positive effect of the top players’ involvement in the Ranji Trophy.
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