- The sport is a great leveller, which is often heard from the connoisseurs, experts, and the ilk elucidating the inherent nature of how the sporting arena offers opportunities as well as makes us realise nothing can be taken for granted. A winner and a loser are the two faces of the same sports coin that showcase the extremes, making us wonder how the same philosophy should guide us in real life, too. Also, one of the most popular axioms used while describing any sport is to mention that it’s a great unifier, unfailingly forging bonds for eternity by simply bringing along people, society, and the country at large in equal measures. Sports inherently possess such strength that they can unite even an evidently diverse society into one solid unit.
PC: Mathrubhumi English
- For Indians, cricket is considered no less than a religion since the popularity, following, passion, and affinity for the same is unparalleled. Of course, cricket in India has evolved tremendously owing to the huge popularity and following. Little wonder that almost 70% of the global revenue for cricket is generated in India, simply because of the demographic dividends in the form of the majority rooting for it. As we know, the Ranji Trophy is the premier red-ball cricket in India,wherein the platform offers great opportunities for the wannabe cricketers to not only find a firm footing in the hugely competitive pool but also help grab the attention of the selectors on the lookout for some serious talent. Many superstar cricketers have emerged from this stable for decades.
PC: ranjitrophy.com.in
- With the advent of the ultra-popular T20 franchise-based cricket, the sport has undergone an unimaginable transformation, but the true worth of a cricketer lies in how he/she succeeds in the classical format to this day. Thus, the Ranji Trophy continues to garner greater traction among the cricketers as well as administrators constantly on the lookout to unearth talented cricketers who are prepared to go through the grind. To its credit, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has always placed weight on the premier domestic tournament, emphasizing the need and necessity to encourage cricketers to undergo testing conditions as a part of their overall growth as cricketers. The result is the emergence of J&K as the new Ranji champions this year.
PC: The Statesman
- The J&K Ranji team triumphing in the finals against the seven-time champions Karnataka is a gritty tale of sweat, perseverance, belief, determination, confidence, and successfully sailing through challenging situations – some controllable and some uncontrollable – by showing what collective efforts can achieve. We know how J&K has been struggling over the decades to seamlessly merge into the mainstream, courtesy of several existential challenges. The win in the finals is an epochal moment in the history of J & K cricket, which should help unite the battered region and welcome people to wholeheartedly dream about furthering their aspirations. Sports unite in a way that conventional politics cannot. The Ranji win should usher in dramatic changes in several aspects.
