IPL Over Ranji Trophy? BCCI Issues Harsh Warning To Players

After a few players ignored domestic cricket to give priority to franchise cricket (Indian Premier League aka IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a strict warning. BCCI secretary Jay Shah made it clear that if centrally contracted players want to see themselves in the national team, then they should perform at the domestic level.

Playing franchise cricket, which brings in a lot of different and high-level experiences is good, but domestic cricket is the only right way to get selected in the national side.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Jay Shah in his letter to players talked about IPL's huge success worldwide and how domestic cricket helped in strengthening the roots of Indian cricket.

Without taking any names, Shah highlighted a few incidents where players started prioritising IPL over domestic cricket. He termed such incidents as a shift that was not anticipated.

"It is essential to recognise that domestic cricket forms the backbone of Indian cricket and serves as the feeder line to Team India. Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset - every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic tournaments remains a critical yardstick for selection, and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications," Jay Shah.

The letter from the BCCI secretary came after Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and Deepak Chahar were dropped from the team and they did contact their state boards to participate in domestic cricket.

Iyer and Kisha possess BCCI grade B and C central contracts, while Chahar's contract was not renewed by the board.