Gargi Raut at Arun Jaitley Stadium
A Virat Kohli fan standing outside Gate No. 17 of the Arun Jaitley Stadium proudly showing off his sketches of Indian players, a fangirl at the end of Day 1 screaming at the top of her lungs in excitement over her brief interaction with the local hero, and a crowd of over 10,000 filling up the stands all remind us of the sheer power of public adoration.
The same adoration has breathed new life into domestic cricket, bringing the kind of attention that the Ranji Trophy hadn’t seen for decades. Be it Rohit Sharma in Mumbai, Mohammad Siraj in Nagpur, or KL Rahul in Bangalore, the presence of these India stars has drawn massive crowds to otherwise low-profile fixtures.
Star culture and public worship are two sides of the same coin. While the BCCI have brought in stringent measures to negate the effects that ‘star culture’ was having on the Indian dressing room, they couldn’t ignore public demand, ultimately deciding to livestream the Ranji Trophy clash between Delhi and Railways solely because of Kohli’s participation.
But beyond the spectacle, what truly matters is the impact these global icons have on young domestic players. Ayush Badoni, the 25-year-old Delhi captain, standing next to Kohli in the slips, soaking in every bit of wisdom and a 24-year-old Sanat Sangwan batting alongside one of the greatest batters of the generation – these are exactly the moments you envision when thinking of young talents learning from legends. A close source reported that on the first day of practice, Kohli spent more than an hour speaking to the youngsters in the team, players he had never even met before.
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Just as the crowd jumped to their feet after Kohli hit a straight drive for four, they then fell silent as he was out the very next delivery. One thing was certain, that no one can pull a crowd like international stars on the domestic circuit. In hindsight, no one could leave a bigger impact on young players striving to make their mark either.
For decades, domestic cricket in India had been missing a spark. While the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and others have been a breeding ground for superstars, their relevance for the public has declined – empty stadiums, matches barely covered and only the most die-hard cricket fans watching.
But the influx of international stars has reignited interest. The sheer numbers wanting to watch a Kohli, Rohit, Rahul or Siraj in a Ranji Trophy game is proof enough that domestic cricket too can be a crowd-puller if marketed well. If the BCCI is able to ensure consistent participation from global stars and promote domestic fixtures with the same intensity as they do an IPL – perhaps by playing up state rivalries, iconic venues and historic matchups – it can showcase top-quality cricket.
Not only that, if the BCCI can market something like a Southern Derby for Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu, or bill a Mumbai-Delhi game as a North vs West rivalry, interest can be created. Domestic tournaments were once marquee events in their own right, and if the momentum built over the past fortnight can be sustained, Indian cricket will be well served.
Also Read: Siraj Sparks Frenzy as VCA Stadium Packs Out for Ranji Trophy