2020–21 Ranji Trophy

The 2020–21 Ranji Trophy was scheduled to be the 87th season of the Ranji Trophy, the premier first-class cricket tournament in India.[1] Saurashtra were the defending champions.[2] However, in January 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the season had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It was the first time since the tournament's inception in the 1934–35 season that the Ranji Trophy was not held.[4]

2020–21 Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy, awarded to the winners
Administrator(s)BCCI
Cricket formatFirst-class cricket
Tournament format(s)Round-robin then knockout
Host(s) India
2020–21 Indian domestic cricket season
Men

Background

Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, a change to the format of the tournament was submitted to the BCCI, splitting the elite teams into five groups, instead of three, therefore reducing the number of matches.[5] However, in June 2020, the BCCI denied that any changes to the tournament's structure would be taking place.[6] Also in June, Rahul Dravid, the head of cricket at the National Cricket Academy, suggested that the Indian domestic season could start later or be shortened due to the pandemic.[7] On 19 July 2020, the Times of India reported that the Ranji Trophy would be the only senior domestic cricket tournament to be played in the Indian 2020–21 cricket season,[8] with teams split into five zones, North, West, South, East and Central.[9] In August 2020, the BCCI confirmed that hosting the Ranji Trophy was "a priority".[10] The following month, the BCCI warned that the domestic cricket season could be severely curtailed due to the pandemic, including the possibility of no cricket taking place.[11]

In December 2020, the BCCI confirmed the dates of the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,[12] with a decision on the Ranji Trophy due after the completion of the group stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.[13] Originally, the tournament was scheduled to start on 1 January 2021.[14] However, the start was delayed, with the BCCI looking to begin a reduced competition from February 2021.[15] On 30 January, the BCCI cancelled the 2020–21 Ranji Trophy season,[16] but gave the go-ahead for the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy to take place.[17] An estimated 800 cricketers were impacted by the cancellation of the tournament, with players paid R140,000 per match.[18]

See also

References
  1. "India's domestic 2020-21 season: Only Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali for men?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  2. "Saurashtra's focus on 'one goal' brings Ranji Trophy home". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. "No Ranji Trophy in 2020-21, but BCCI to hold domestic 50-over games for men, women, and U-19 boys". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. "No Ranji Trophy for first time in 87 years". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. "BCCI mulls change in Ranji Trophy format". SportStar. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. "Not considering any change in Ranji Trophy format, says BCCI GM Cricket Operations Saba Karim". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  7. "'Don't think we are in a position to resume cricket in India' - Rahul Dravid". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. "BCCI prunes domestic cricket season amid Covid-19". Times of India. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. "Ranji & U-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy on BCCI's Mind in Coronavirus-hit Domestic Calendar: Report". Network18 Media and Investments Ltd. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  10. "India's 2020-21 domestic season might extend until June next year". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. "BCCI warns of severely curtailed 2020-21 domestic season". ESPN Cricninfo. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. "Prospects of Ranji Trophy fading, Syed Mushtaq Ali from January 10". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  13. "Ranji Trophy not yet ruled out, Ganguly keen". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  14. "Sourav Ganguly: India's domestic season will start from January 1". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  15. "BCCI Apex Council to discuss Ranji Trophy fate". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  16. "No Ranji Trophy this season, BCCI opts for 50-over Vijay Hazare". Indian Express. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  17. "BCCI to not hold Ranji Trophy for first time in 87 years". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  18. "No Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years, players face a setback". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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