MetaBOT at 20:27, 8 July 2023

2023-07-08T20:27:38Z

New page

{{short description|Cricket tournament}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox cricket tournament
| name = 2020–21 Ranji Trophy
| image = Ranji_trophy.jpg
| fromdate =
| todate =
| caption = The Ranji Trophy, awarded to the winners
| administrator = [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]]
| cricket format = [[First-class cricket]]
| tournament format = [[Round-robin tournament|Round-robin]] then [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout]]
| host = {{flag|India}}
| champions =
| count =
| participants =
| matches =
| player of the series =
| most runs =
| most wickets =
| website =
| previous_year = 2019–20
| previous_tournament = 2019–20 Ranji Trophy
| next_year = 2021–22
| next_tournament = 2021–22 Ranji Trophy
}}
{{2020–21 Indian domestic cricket season}}
The '''2020–21 Ranji Trophy''' was scheduled to be the 87th season of the [[Ranji Trophy]], the premier [[first-class cricket]] tournament in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29626925/india-domestic-2020-21-season-only-ranji-trophy-syed-mushtaq-ali-men? |title=India's domestic 2020-21 season: Only Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali for men? |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> [[Saurashtra cricket team|Saurashtra]] were the defending champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28897714/saurashtra-focus-one-goal-brings-ranji-trophy-home |title=Saurashtra's focus on 'one goal' brings Ranji Trophy home |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=13 March 2020}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/no-ranji-trophy-in-2020-21-but-bcci-to-hold-domestic-50-over-competitions-for-men-women-u-19-boys-1249623 |title=No Ranji Trophy in 2020-21, but BCCI to hold domestic 50-over games for men, women, and U-19 boys |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> It was the first time since the tournament's inception in the [[1934–35 Ranji Trophy|1934–35 season]] that the Ranji Trophy was not held.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/bcci-to-hold-hazare-trophy-as-per-state-units-wish-no-ranji-trophy-for-first-time-in-87-years/article33701912.ece |title=No Ranji Trophy for first time in 87 years |work=The Hindu |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/bcci-ranji-trophy-format-change-indian-cricket-coronavirus/article31684128.ece |title=BCCI mulls change in Ranji Trophy format |work=SportStar |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> However, in June 2020, the BCCI denied that any changes to the tournament's structure would be taking place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2020/may/27/not-considering-any-change-in-ranji-trophy-format-says-bcci-gm-cricket-operations-saba-karim-2148666.html |title=Not considering any change in Ranji Trophy format, says BCCI GM Cricket Operations Saba Karim |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29338379/-think-position-resume-cricket-india-rahul-dravid |title='Don't think we are in a position to resume cricket in India' - Rahul Dravid |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=20 June 2020}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/bcci-prunes-domestic-cricket-season-amid-covid-19/articleshow/77045702.cms |title=BCCI prunes domestic cricket season amid Covid-19 |work=Times of India |access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> with teams split into five zones, North, West, South, East and Central.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/ranji-u-19-vinoo-mankad-trophy-on-bccis-mind-in-coronavirus-hit-domestic-calendar-report-2723243.html |title=Ranji & U-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy on BCCI's Mind in Coronavirus-hit Domestic Calendar: Report |work=Network18 Media and Investments Ltd |access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> In August 2020, the BCCI confirmed that hosting the Ranji Trophy was "a priority".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29582385/india-2020-21-domestic-season-extend-june-next-year |title=India's 2020-21 domestic season might extend until June next year |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29835278/bcci-warns-severely-curtailed-2020-21-domestic-season |title=BCCI warns of severely curtailed 2020-21 domestic season |work=ESPN Cricninfo |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

In December 2020, the BCCI confirmed the dates of the [[2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/prospects-of-ranji-trophy-fading-syed-mushtaq-ali-from-january-10-1243745 |title=Prospects of Ranji Trophy fading, Syed Mushtaq Ali from January 10 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> with a decision on the Ranji Trophy due after the completion of the group stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/indian-domestic-season-2020-21-ranji-trophy-not-yet-ruled-out-sourav-ganguly-keen-1245065 |title=Ranji Trophy not yet ruled out, Ganguly keen |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref> Originally, the tournament was scheduled to start on 1 January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30132062/sourav-ganguly-india-domestic-season-start-january-1 |title=Sourav Ganguly: India's domestic season will start from January 1 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> However, the start was delayed, with the BCCI looking to begin a reduced competition from February 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bcci-apex-council-to-discuss-ranji-trophy-fate-1247624 |title=BCCI Apex Council to discuss Ranji Trophy fate |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> On 30 January, the BCCI cancelled the 2020–21 Ranji Trophy season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/no-ranji-trophy-this-season-bcci-opts-for-50-over-vijay-hazare-7167372/ |title=No Ranji Trophy this season, BCCI opts for 50-over Vijay Hazare |work=Indian Express |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> but gave the go-ahead for the [[2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy]] to take place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-to-not-hold-ranji-trophy-for-first-time-in-87-years-101611982984543.html |title=BCCI to not hold Ranji Trophy for first time in 87 years |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> An estimated 800 cricketers were impacted by the cancellation of the tournament, with each player due to be paid [[Indian rupee|R]]140,000 per match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/no-ranji-trophy-for-the-first-time-in-87-years-players-face-a-setback-101612058314568.html |title=No Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years, players face a setback |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ranji Trophy}}
{{Domestic cricket in 2020–21}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 Ranji Trophy}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Ranji Trophy seasons
|description=
}}

[[Category:Ranji Trophy seasons]]
[[Category:2020 in Indian cricket|Ranji Trophy]]
[[Category:2021 in Indian cricket|Ranji Trophy]]
[[Category:Domestic cricket competitions in 2020–21|Ranji Trophy Trophy]]
[[Category:Cricket events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic|Ranji Trophy]]

2020 21 Ranji Trophy - Revision history

MetaBOT at 20:27, 8 July 2023