Posts Tagged ‘Ranji Trophy’

Gulu’s Googlies: BCCI – A Charitable Trust?

Gulu Ezekiel

By Gulu Ezekiel

It’s been a mixed week for Indian cricket. The national side looked flat and listless in the final of the tri-series against Sri Lanka after having won all four of their preliminary matches with a modicum of ease. 

Perhaps the Indians were simply struck by a sense of ennui—after all, they have played the Lankans in 22 ODIs, six Test matches and three T-20 Internationals in less than 19 months! 

Meanwhile, at the Gangothri Glades ground in Mysore, one of the most enthralling domestic matches of all time was being played out between Mumbai and Karnataka. 

That Mumbai emerged as Ranji Trophy champions for the 39^th time was not altogether surprising considering their pedigree on the domestic circuit. 

What did come as a surprise—a pleasant one at that–was the magnificent crowd that turned out to witness the match over four days as well the sporting pitch which made it a great contest. 

That smaller centres away from the metropolitan cities often attract large numbers for domestic matches is no secret. This was the case with some of the preliminary matches as well. 

Domestic cricketers crave good pitches and an enthusiastic audience. They also expect proper infrastructure which is not always the case in mofussil centres. However, some of these problems can be overlooked when a match goes down to the wire, that too in the final.

The Karnataka team opted for Mysore instead of their traditional base, the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore as they felt the pitch at the Glades would suit their pace-heavy bowling attack.

That it did. But it suited Mumbai’s pacers even better and in the end they had the last laugh as Mumbai teams so often have had in the past.

Meanwhile, there has been some unsettling news as far as the BCCI is concerned.

The recent report from the Income Tax department slamming the Board as a profit-making entity and not a charitable trust exempt from dues as it likes to project itself has nailed that lie once and for all.

For the BCCI to surreptitiously alter its basic character by a change in its constitution is not only an attempt to hoodwink the IT authorities but also a way of pulling the wool over the eyes of the cricket loving public in India.

The fact that the BCCI (according to the IT statement) puts only 8 per cent of its earnings back into the game and has done nothing to improve the infrastructure is a vindication of the comments I made in my first column, well before these startling revelations became public. 

Of course the Board has gone in appeal against the withering Rs. 120 crore tax imposition and impending penalty. And they can be little doubt they will wriggle off the hook considering they are backed by political heavyweights like Sharad Pawar.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has become totally commercial and all its activities are being carried on commercial lines. Cricket is only incidental to its scheme of things…whose promotion it is not interested in.”

What a devastating indictment! The BCCI now has nowhere left to hide.

Ranji Trophy Final: Pandey & Satish set-up a great end

The Ranji Trophy awaits its new holders at the Gangothri Glades.

The Ranji Trophy Final 2009-10 has been a great showcase for Indian domestic cricket thus far. The setting at Mysore’s Gangothri Glades Ground is most picturesque, fans have thronged the ground in numbers, the wicket is not flat, dead and brown and most importantly it has been a gruelling see-saw contest in th middle.

After the Karnataka pacers bundled out favourites Mumbai for a mere 233 runs in the 1st innings, Karnataka were in the driver’s seat but that advantage was shortlived as Avishkar Salvi claimed 5 wickets while giving away just 31 runs helping his side finish Karnataka for just 130.

That gave Mumbai what looked like a decisive 1st innings lead on this wicket which has plenty in it for the bowlers. But the home team bowled their hearts out to reduce Mumbai to 172-8 before Dhawal Kulkarni partnered Romesh Powar for an important 59 runs partnership for the ninth wicket. Kulkarni scored 87 runs in all, and it may ultimately prove to be the match winning innings. But it ain’t over yet…

Ajit Agarkar struck thrice early on during Karnataka’s chase of 338, but then Manish Pandey and G. Satish added 89 runs for the 4th wicket and the duo is still at the crease. Pandey is not out on 59 and if the duo can continue tomorrow in the same vein, things can get close at Mysore.

Ranji Trophy Final: Karnataka Seamers Bundle Out Mumbai

Match: Ranji Trophy Final – Mumbai vs Karnataka | Venue: Gangotri Glades Cricket Ground, Mysore | Match Dates: 11th to 15th January 2010

On the eve of the Ranji Trophy 2009 final, Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya predicted that one man who wasn’t in the scheme of the things in the final may prove to be the decising factor in the final of India’s premier domestic cricket tournament. Dahiya went on to say that Rahul Dravid’s absence would increase Mumbai’s chance of getting their hold back on the trophy by more than 50%. However on day 1, it was the Karnataka seamers who have given their team the edge. The Karnataka quickies, Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun delivered in proportion to the pre-match hype scalping seven wickets between themselves. At one stage Mumbai had been reduced to 20/3 and then to 100/5 before the resilient Mumbai lower order braved hard to bring some respect to the total. They were finally dismissed for 233 – not a decent total to defend in the Ranji final but before the close of play Dhawal Kulkarni had sent back Karnatak skipper Robin Uthappa. So it may not yet be all lost for Mumbai, 38 times Ranji Champions.

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Click here for >> an interesting Quiz on Ranji Trophy 2009-10.