A lesson to be learnt

By Rajadhyax

The Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) Season 2 started today. Season 1 was attended by record crowds at grounds that did not even offer cement constructed stadiums and other amenities. Within the state of Maharashtra the franchises have become quite famous and sponsors have shown keen interest. The cricket on the field has been nothing short of exciting. Coaches like Dermot Reeve and Geoff Lawson have added the international flavour and zing to the proceedings while the cricket association of the state is clearly ecstatic.

Under the able leadership of industrialist Ajay Shirke the association has grown more ambitious. Season 2 of MPL will have 17 matches played at the famous D.Y.Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the home of IPL finalists Mumbai Indians. Neo Cricket will telecast these matches Live on TV while Mr. Shirke seems quite robust in his predictions about how MPL will grow from strength to strength. He has even gone on to have ticketed entries for the matches at D.Y.Patil stadium.

The Maharashtra association has also started construction on a massive 55000 seater-stadium at Gahunje in the suburbs of Pune. This state-of-the-art stadium will be the home ground for new IPL team Sahara Pune Warriors and the Season 3 of MPL will also be played there. All of this could end up with a first ever test match at Pune if everything goes according to the plans. By the start of the next IPL the first phase of 44000 seats will be completed while the next six months will see the remaining construction done for more cricket there.

All of this has also resulted into some neat achievements for the state team. The All-India Mustaq Mohammad Trophy T20 tournament that is played among all the Ranji Trophy teams was won by the state of Maharashtra. Three of its players – Kedar Jadhav (Delhi Daredevils), Harshad Khadiwale (Kolkata Knightriders) and Aditya Dole (Rajasthan Royals) – have already got into IPL teams. By the way, the state won the Mohammad Trophy when these three players were not available due to their IPL commitments.

More IPL talent-scouts and national selectors will be watching this year’s MPL, giving these players a head start before the next IPL auction / selection. More sponsors are showing interest in state cricket. Australian coach Shaun Williams is harnessing talent of the young state Ranji team. And for sure you folks will see more state players playing in the ‘India A’ and IPL teams shortly.

I am mentioning all these factors not to merely praise the state association under Ajay Shirke or his managerial abilities. But because, here is a lesson to be learnt by other states in India. Better infrastructure, greater equipment, professional coaches, physios, trained ground staff, roping players from smaller towns, encouraging players from big cities, using scientific coaching techniques and increasing the pay stakes for cricketers even at state-level is helping the state achieve a minor miracle. If they reach even Ranji Finals in a year or two the whole country will stand up and applaud. Hopefully other states are watching!

If more and more states draw the right conclusions from these efforts, India could end up being richer in talent. While selecting Team India we could end up having a problem of plenty. A team with healthy bench strength keeps triumphing in the long run and never runs out of a pool of good players. If the other states could replicate this model and sponsors bring in finances at junior levels, India could look at a longer period at ICC number one position for all forms of cricket. Of course, this requires a dynamic administration and a pool of good managerial talent to jump into cricket. And that is what we all must be hoping for.