2020–21 Ranji Trophy

{{Infobox cricket tournament

| name = 2020–21 Ranji Trophy

| image = Ranji_trophy.jpg

| fromdate =

| todate =

| caption = The Ranji Trophy, awarded to the winners

| administrator = BCCI

| cricket format = First-class cricket

| tournament format = Round-robin then 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

}}

The 2020–21 Ranji Trophy was scheduled to be the 87th season of the Ranji Trophy, the premier first-class cricket tournament in India.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=9 August 2020}} Saurashtra were the defending champions.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 March 2020}} 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.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=30 January 2021}} It was the first time since the tournament's inception in the 1934–35 season that the Ranji Trophy was not held.{{cite news|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 |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=30 January 2021 |last1=Karhadkar |first1=Amol }}

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.{{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 |date=27 May 2020 |access-date=12 June 2020}} However, in June 2020, the BCCI denied that any changes to the tournament's structure would be taking place.{{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}} 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.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=20 June 2020}} 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,{{cite news|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 |date=19 July 2020 |access-date=20 July 2020}} with teams split into five zones, North, West, South, East and Central.{{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}} In August 2020, the BCCI confirmed that hosting the Ranji Trophy was "a priority".{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 August 2020}} 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.{{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}}

In December 2020, the BCCI confirmed the dates of the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 December 2020}} with a decision on the Ranji Trophy due after the completion of the group stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=24 December 2020}} Originally, the tournament was scheduled to start on 1 January 2021.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 October 2020}} However, the start was delayed, with the BCCI looking to begin a reduced competition from February 2021.{{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=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 January 2021}} On 30 January, the BCCI cancelled the 2020–21 Ranji Trophy season,{{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}} but gave the go-ahead for the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy to take place.{{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 |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=1 February 2021}} An estimated 800 cricketers were impacted by the cancellation of the tournament, with each player due to be paid R140,000 per match.{{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 |date=31 January 2021 |access-date=1 February 2021}}

References

Category:2020 in Indian cricket

Category:2021 in Indian cricket

Ranji Trophy

Category:Domestic cricket competitions in 2020–21

Category:Ranji Trophy seasons

2020–21 Ranji Trophy

Background

See also

References