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Without BCCI funds or attention, Ranji outsiders Services fight on many fronts
Services, who have been playing Ranji Trophy since 1949-50, have largely remained in the margins of India’s first-class cricket set up.
Services cricketers are glued to action on the field where their batsmen are battling against Haryana in their opening Ranji Trophy Group ‘C’ match at the Brabourne Stadium here.
In the members’ pavilion, located next to the Services dressing room, third Test proceedings in Indore are being followed on television. In between overs, advertisement for a prominent two-wheeler company is aired, saluting the real heroes of India, in the armed forces.
Although the cricketers don’t have to report to duty, with tension mounting on the border, their minds do wander thinking about the situation.
“It is natural to think of what is happening on the border, but our minds are trained in a way to concentrate on the task at hand. We are employed to play cricket and that is our duty,” says Services captain Soumik Chatterjee, a sergeant in the Indian Air Force.
NO PULLING RANK
Although the armed forces tradition is to address each other by their rank, Chatterjee has ensured the practice is not followed while playing. “It just gets too formal. You cannot express yourself freely,” he says.
The Cricket Club of India has a special connect with the Services. The first floor banquet hall is named after Col CK Nayudu, India’s first skipper.
Despite having a towering figure to look up to, Services cricket hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Services, who have been playing Ranji Trophy since 1949-50, have largely remained in the margins of India’s first-class cricket set up. Even in the Service Sports Control Board (SSCB), cricket is not as decorated a sport compared to Olympic sports like boxing, hockey and shooting. It is reflected in the fact that till date only one cricketer (HT Dani) has received the best sportsman award, way back in 1969-70.
NOT TOO ORGANISED
With no funding from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Services crop up on the national scene only during Ranji Trophy. “During the other times of the year, we have our own tournaments which we have to play. We participate in local leagues. Our most important tournament of the year is the inter-services tournament (organised by SSCB) from where the Ranji squad is selected,” says Chatterjee. After Ranji Trophy, players go back to their unit teams.
Apart from the two consecutive Ranji finals in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under Lt Col Hemu Adhikari, Services have largely been seen as a team that fills the numbers.
In recent times, the 2012-13 season remains their best show with Services reaching the Ranji semifinals where they lost to Mumbai.
That season one got a glimpse of the Services’ fighting spirit. Skipper Chatterjee played like a true warrior to oust Uttar Pradesh in the quarterfinal, batting with an injured leg to guide Services to a memorable five-wicket win. Last season too, Services narrowly missed out on taking the second or third spot in Group C.
However, this season they are back to Square One, feels coach Sarabjit Singh. “We don’t have Yashpal Singh (the only Services player to feature in the IPL) with us now as he is playing for Tripura. Rajat Paliwal has decided to play for Haryana this season. So, two of our core players have left us and we are once again in a rebuilding stage,” says Sarabjit, who has played the most number of matches (80) for Services after record-holder Yashpal (87).
Unlike other state teams, Services players come together only a month before the tournament. That’s another reason for their minimal progress. “When you play as a unit for an entire season, it makes a difference,” laments the coach.
NO INDIA CHANCE
The fact that no Services player has played for India is another reason why their top cricketers desert them. “Rajat has been consistently scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy. Despite that, he has just managed to play in the Duleep Trophy. Players with fewer scores than him are in the IPL and India ‘A’ teams. You score a few centuries in a state team and your chances of promotion are bright. It is not the case here,” laments Chatterjee.
He recalls a scene from MS Dhoni’s biopic to relate to the situation. “Dhoni’s life changed when he decided to play for Jharkhand. He says in the movie that he doesn’t want to play Ranji Trophy forever. Even I want to play for India… that’s my dream,” says Chatterjee (29).
So, what makes them still play for a team where a shot at the national team are minimal? “There is a secured environment here. For a place in a state team, you compete with 500 players. Here you compete against 50,” he says.
