Making Of Champions: Structural Changes In Madhya Pradesh Cricket That Led To Ranji Trophy Triumph

Minutes after Madhya Pradesh won the Ranji Trophy, a tweet by India cricketer Dinesh Karthik went viral. It was a simple congratulatory message but the last line was telling, where he termed Chandrakant Pandit as 'Sir Alex Ferguson of Indian domestic cricket'. Ferguson was arguably one of the greatest managers in the history of club football. Someone, whose tactical nous made Manchester United a global brand in the satellite television era. Karthik was trying to create an analogy with Pandit's 'Midas Touch', which transformed a middle-rung domestic team like MP into national champions.

So what went into making MP a formidable domestic side? Just like Rome wasn't built in a day, neither did Pandit have a 'magic wand' that changed things overnight.

It was two years of meticulous planning, understanding the structure, securing co-operation from the establishment and last but not the least - successful implementation of ideas.

Few years back, former India Test wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta -- one of Bengal's finest captains (led the state to back-to-back Ranji Trophy finals) -- said something about success at the Ranji level which fits perfectly with Pandit's modus operandi.

"Ranji Trophy is very different from Test cricket although it might look structurally the same. There is a very specific code of how teams win Ranji Trophy. Once you crack that code, you will always be playing semi-finals, finals or even win the trophy as Chandu bhai did with Vidarbha," Dasgupta had said back then.

Ranji Trophy is like CBSE board exam where you need to get a few areas right -- three standard batters, one solid spinner, preferably left-arm and a good new ball pair. Even if you don't win the championship, you are there or thereabout.

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