For the first time in 87 years, the Ranji Trophy will not be held as the BCCI decided to conduct the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy instead. Due to the truncated domestic calendar courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic, the BCCI could only conduct either the Ranji Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy. After receiving feedback from various state associations, the BCCI decided to scrap the Ranji Trophy for the first time since 1934-35. The board will be conducting a senior women’s One Day event along with the Vinoo Mankad (Under-19 One Day tournament) along with the Vijay Hazare.
Jay Shah, BCCI secretary, in a letter to all state associations wrote, “It has been difficult to plan the cricket calendar on account of the precautions that are necessary for the safe conduct of the games,” Shah wrote: “… it was extremely important for us to ensure that women’s cricket takes place and I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the Senior Women’s One-day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy [men’s 50-over tournament] and follow it up with Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-19.”
The BCCI had, earlier, asked for suggestions from the state associations on the domestic calendar that had been curtailed due to the pandemic. The BCCI had conducted a four-match Women’s T20 Challenge and the IPL in the UAE from September to November last year, but the rising cases in India meant that the country was unable to host any cricket games. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy took place across seven centres in January – the finals of which are on Sunday – but conducting a similar bio-bubble for a long-drawn Ranji Trophy was logistically expensive. There were reports that the shorter Ranji Trophy could be held this season, but the states preferred the Vijay Hazare when given a choice.
All Ranji Trophy players will be compensated, however.
The return of women’s cricket is positive news as well for the players, who have not played international cricket since their T20 World Cup final appearance on 8 March 2020. Most of their tours have been postponed or canceled due to the pandemic.