Local heroes

On Sunday, Mumbai’s 500th Ranji Trophy match ended with a gritty rearguard action staving off defeat against Baroda. It was a display of the mulishness the Mumbai cricket team is famous for—and an apt occasion to remember the importance of the domestic game.
Much has been written about the rise of cricket as India’s national passion since the 1983 World Cup victory. That rise has been built on the back of a rich history. From the Parsis who had the temerity to challenge the Bombay Presidency’s British players at the turn of the 19th century to the Mumbai powerhouse’s long summer and the rise of challengers like Karnataka and Delhi, domestic cricket has had rich political and social subtexts.
Before Sachin Tendulkar and M.S. Dhoni became metaphors for India’s rise, local heroes like Rajinder Goel and Padmakar Shivalkar plied their trade.
Domestic cricket is now often played before largely empty stadiums and faces administrative problems, but it would be a mistake to overlook its continued importance.
Latest News »
- India ride-hailing firm Jugnoo eyes Singapore as Uber drives off
- GST Council to meet on 4 May, simplifying returns on agenda
- UltraTech Cement Q4 profit falls 39% to Rs446 crore
- Govt hikes raw jute MSP by Rs200 to Rs3,700 per quintal for 2018-19
- Bharti Infratel board reappoints Akhil Kumar Gupta as executive chairman
Latest News »
Toyota starts booking for Yaris ahead of May launch
Facebook results to be scoured for evidence of user defections
Volkswagen open to revisiting Tata tie-up for India mass market
Videocon moves NCLT principal bench for consolidation of all insolvency proceedings
Bharti Infratel, Indus Towers announce merger to create telecom tower behemoth