The recent loss of Mumbai to the J & K Ranji team was no stroke of luck but a systematic triumph achieved by the underdogs. The cricketing fraternity in Mumbai is visibly shaken — from the maidaans to coffee shops and club bars only one topic is discussed. How could Mumbai lose to J & K?
Mumbai in the past has always had quality due to tough competition in local cricket. It was said that when Mumbai did well, Indian cricket did well. This was no exaggeration as one third of India’s runs have been scored by batsmen from Mumbai.
In fact, quality emerging from Mumbai was so high that in the 1970s a suggestion was made to allow two Ranji teams to represent the city. Not many disputed the notion that if the proposal was implemented, the two teams would face each other in the final.
These facts clarify the prominence Mumbai held in the spectrum of Indian cricket. The telling point though, is that all of these facts are written in the past tense. The growing concern regarding the general fall in cricketing standard has not gone unnoticed. The loss to J & K is only the latest evidence of quality sliding in Mumbai.
Mumbai for the longest time was exemplary in the landscape of Indian cricket. In 1970-71, Sudhir Naik successfully led a team that won the Ranji Trophy comprising mostly collegians, against Maharashtra, when the five top players of the team were on national duty in the West Indies. Upon their return the following season, Naik was carrying drinks. Such competition seems to have disappeared from Mumbai cricket.
Telling indicatorSome years ago Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi lamented: “It seems Mumbai has forgotten that for a few decades the majority of the Indian team comprised players from Mumbai. The team has to re-look at the tournament and coaching structures.” The association’s line-ups which had players from Merchant to Tendulkar in the past, today doesn’t find a genuine opening batsman is a telling indicator of the severity of the issue.
A parallel emerges in the Ranji match between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka that was played simultaneously this year. The losing team in that match, Tamil Nadu, produced quality line-ups at least till the 1990s. However, it has lifted the coveted Ranji Trophy only twice. A perplexing tale of under achievement.
Even when there were six Test players in the squad, Tamil Nadu did not look like a team that was likely to win the Ranji Trophy.
Tamil Nadu and Mumbai have tasted different degrees of success but now share a puzzling slump. Tournament structures, dressing room environment or a lack of mentors may all be speculated as the reason(s) for this trend.
TN's opponent Karnataka has had a highly successful run in the last half a decade, but this achievement is not accidental.
Karnataka was the first association to set up an academy in 2001. The academy appointed TRDOs (Talent Resource Development Officers) who constantly travelled and spent time coaching in district centres. Today majority of players in the Karnataka Ranji team are products of the academy.
While it is pleasing to watch the legendary Erapalli Prasanna and Raghuram Bhatt coach the state's spinners every day, it is surprising that none of the other elite state academies make use of former Test players on a regular basis.
The efforts of the KSCA in putting in place these systems have resulted in the emergence of a cohesive squad not only among players but also between coaches and the state selectors.
The TNCA and the MCA have to find ways of addressing the same in their respective squads.
It seems that the two associations have fallen behind resting on past laurels.
The possible answers lie before them in following the KSCA model as well as the NCA syllabus. One can’t hope to win without a proper system.
