The cricketing fields of Tamil Nadu buzzed with excitement as the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament 2024 commenced on Thursday, ahead of the senior men’s domestic cricket season. This prestigious tournament, named after the Tamil Nadu cricket legend Buchi Babu Naidu, returned after a six-year hiatus last year, bringing with it the promise of intense competition and the showcasing of raw talent.
The tournament features 12 teams, divided into four groups. Among them are 10 state teams, alongside two teams from Tamil Nadu itself – the TNCA President’s XI and TNCA XI. The matches are set in a four-day format, serving as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming Duleep Trophy in September and the much-anticipated Ranji Trophy in October. Madhya Pradesh, the defending champions, are looking to retain their title after a thrilling victory over Delhi in the previous year.
Players in Focus:
Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav: The Mumbai duo, despite being named in the squad, missed the first round. They will join the team for the second round against Jammu and Kashmir, from August 27 in Coimbatore, to fine-tune their skills for the domestic season and home Test season.
Sarfaraz Khan: The Sarfaraz-led Mumbai took on Haryana, who ended Day 1 on 288/6. Dheeru Singh from Haryana was the star, scoring an unbeaten 130, with Nishant Sindhu, the youngster from India’s 2022 U-19 World Cup campaign, contributing 91. Sarfaraz is going to be in action with the bat on Day 2.I
Ishan Kishan: After a tumultuous year, Kishan made his return to domestic cricket leading Jharkhand. Although he didn’t get to bat on Day 1, he was impressive behind the stumps, taking three catches, including a spectacular diving effort to his left to dismiss Ramveer Gurjar of Madhya Pradesh. Kishan’s journey back to competitive cricket has been under the spotlight. After being excluded from the BCCI’s central contract list and missing several Ranji Trophy matches, his return was much-anticipated. His stint at the DY Patil T20 Cup and his performance in the IPL 2024, where he scored 320 runs, showed glimpses of his talent. However, he will have to prove his worth again in the domestic circuit, starting from the Duleep Trophy.
● Vivek Singh and Pratham Singh: Indian Railways put on a batting exhibition against Gujarat, with Vivek Singh scoring a fluent 104 and Pratham Singh smashing 130, leading to a formidable total of 429/6.
Match Summaries:
● Madhya Pradesh vs Jharkhand: Madhya Pradesh reached 225/8, with Shubham Kushwah scoring 84.
● Indian Railways vs Gujarat: A dominant batting display led to 429/6, with standout performances from Vivek and Pratham.
● Chhattisgarh vs Jammu and Kashmir: Chhattisgarh were bowled out for 178, with Ayush Pandey’s 138 being the highlight. Jammu and Kashmir struggled in response, ending at 29/2.
● Haryana vs Mumbai: A splendid 130 by Dheeru Singh and 91 by young Nishant Sindhu helped Haryana post 288/6.
The Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament not only serves as a platform for seasoned players to fine-tune their skills but also as a launchpad for emerging talents. On Day 2, the likes of Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Abdul Samad, Musheer Khan, Priyank Panchal and Het Patel will be in action with the bat.