Former India captain Rahul Dravid rarely speaks his mind and when he does, it sounds as fruitful as is fluent batting.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid rarely speaks his mind and when he does, it sounds as fruitful as is fluent batting. Dravid felt that that the Indian board – BCCI should have allowed players like Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma to have played for their respective states in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final that starts on Wednesday but the board is keen sending these stars packing early to New Zealand.
Here’s what Rahul had said. “Well, I think there was a good opportunity and a case to allow these players play for their teams in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. There is a gap of seven days before they play the first ODI (January 19). I am sure these six could have joined the team a day or two later as it has happened earlier,” Dravid was quoted on ESPN Cricinfo.
He further adds, “I am not saying that BCCI doesn’t value Ranji Trophy. They do value a lot but if these boys play, it raises profile of the event. Since the match (Mumbai vs Maharashtra) would be telecast live, people while flipping through channels, if they find Rohit batting, they would just hang around and watch a bit more.”
I totally agree with ‘the Wall’ here. Why wouldn’t one want one to see a Rohit Sharma or a Mohammad Shami playing a Ranji game if they are broadcast live on TV. Dravid is speaking for the board themselves, if there is no star value in the domestic circuit, why would one viewer will waste his/her time watching those 90 overs. Also, Dravid makes his point forward in a nonchalant way. He is not demeaning the Board or it’s rules here! Yes, the New Zealand tour is an important one but if our BCCI acts wisely, talents like Shami and Rahane won’t go wasted on away shores.
