Irani Trophy: The jewel in the Indian domestic diadem

The step-motherly treatment meted out to domestic cricket by successive administrations of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is well known. Over the years, there has been a growing emphasis on international cricket, and planning a busy schedule for the Indian team has gained prominence at the expense of a proper domestic programme. Little thought is given to the participation of leading players in important tournaments like the Ranji and Duleep Trophies ­ a must for a player's form to be judged correctly. The organisation of one-day tournaments, like the Deodhar Trophy and the Challenger Series, is done in a haphazard manner.

That said, it must also be stated that the sanctity of at least one important domestic competition is still being preserved. The annual Irani Trophy match between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India, surely the most important game in the domestic calendar, is still played according to the schedule maintained since 1965 ­ as the pipe-opener for the season.

A case in point for this season is the fact that a prestigious competition like the Duleep Trophy, now in its 40th year, has been pushed to the fag end of the season. Successive board presidents, immediately after their election victories, harp on the theme of restoring the importance of domestic cricket and making it mandatory for the stars to play in the tournaments. Little is done, however, to put such theories into practice.

That said, it must also be stated that the sanctity of at least one important domestic competition is still being preserved. The annual Irani Trophy match between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India, surely the most important game in the domestic calendar, is still played according to the schedule maintained since 1965 ­ as the pipeopener for the season. When it was first started during 1959-60, the match was played at the very end of the season. Realising the folly and aware of the potentialities of such a tie, the BCCI wisely shifted it to the beginning of the season, as all the leading players would be participants. Since then the Irani Trophy has maintained its importance, and increased international cricket has only slightly dented its special status. To the officials, the selectors, the media, the cricketers, both established and budding, it remains the game to star in if one wants to make a name.

The list of cricketers who made it big after a splendid performance in this annual fixture is long and impressive. Dilip Vengsarkar's is perhaps the best known case; he treated Bedi and Prasanna in cavalier fashion to hit 110 in 1975-76 and make the big leap to the Indian cap, even if he was not an immediate success. Gopal Bose's 170 in 1973-74 helped him clinch the opening slot in the Indian team. Kapil Dev booked a berth in the Indian team to tour Pakistan in 1978-79 largely due to his allround exploits in the Irani Trophy match, which was a sort of selection trial to pick the touring squad. In 1982-83, K Srikkanth's return to the Indian team was sure once he made a dazzling 110 off 86 balls to spark off a memorable run-chase at the Kotla. Six years later, VB Chandrasekhar achieved stardom by hitting the fastest hundred by an Indian in first-class cricket ­ off just 56 balls ­ and within weeks was playing for the country.

The Irani Trophy has not been a boon just for batsmen. In 1992-93, Anil Kumble took 13 wickets just prior to the selection of the side for South Africa. He returned to the Indian team ­ and has never looked back since.

Even in the last decade, when, as I said, the importance of the Irani Trophy has been slightly downplayed, it has still been a case of "do well in the match to play for India." Ajay Jadeja, Sairaj Bahutule, Vijay Bhardwaj and Thiru Kumaran are examples of players who have forced their way into the Indian team almost entirely on their performances in this annual fixture.

So what could the selectors have learnt from this season's justconcluded Irani Trophy game? The most important point is that VVS Laxman is fit, and that is good news for Indian cricket. Looking to the future, they would have been happy with the performances of Dinesh Mongia and Connor Williams. The former, a middle-order batsman of some calibre, has already played for India without really establishing himself. Perhaps his double of 125 and 90 not out will give him the necessary confidence to do so. As for Williams, he has been one of the candidates for the opening slot for about a year, thanks to a series of impressive performances. His 143 and 83 in this game could not have been better timed. It is also gratifying to note that Sarandeep is still bowling well and is around if and when a third spinner is required.