da fezbet： It was the contrarian’s dream and the punter’s nightmare
Anand Vasu25-Apr-2001It was the contrarian’s dream and the punter’s nightmare. Baroda andRailways contesting the final of the Ranji Trophy. In the 66 yearhistory of Indian cricket’s premier first class competition, Barodahas won five times and been runners up on two other occasions. WhileRailways have played the role of bridesmaid twice, they have nevergotten any further. Compare this with the ‘winningest’ teams in RanjiTrophy history, Mumbai and Karnataka. While Mumbai emerge clearleaders, having risen to the top spot on 34 occasions. Karnataka,winning on six occasions comes in second.On the merit of this season’s form, Punjab were one team tipped forhigh honours. Coming in to the semifinals having won 7 out of 7 gamesoutright, with six of those victories coming by the huge margin of aninnings, Punjab were the team to beat. No other team that completedthe semifinal line-up, Baroda, Railways and Orissa could boast of arecord like Punjab. Alas, the things that you achieve in the leaguephase are left behind once the knock out stage begins. A Punjab sideminus the services of Sarandeep Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Mongiaand Yuvraj Singh went down by five wickets to Railways, playing withtheir tails up. Perhaps a full strength Punjab team would have posed amore stiff challenge? Indeed, if Punjab had gone through to the final,perhaps Baroda would not have had it so easy?At the other end of the semifinal lineup, Baroda played one of thelesser teams in the Ranji Trophy. In the last two years or so, Orissahave begun to make a name for themselves. Before the upswing they werethe kind of team that others relished playing against. This timearound, Baroda went through by virtue of first innings lead on theback of a big knock of 181 from Nayan Mongia.Baroda had what you would call a charmed season. The team neverperformed exceedingly well and yet, seemed to go through the roundswithout a hitch. Have a look at the venues Baroda played at from theknock-out stage onwards:
Pre-Quarter Final 5: Baroda v Bengal at Baroda
Quarter Final 3: Baroda v Tamil Nadu at Baroda
Semi Final 2: Baroda v Orissa at Baroda
Final: Baroda v Railways at Baroda
Now when people say that teams should be professional enough to playaway games and win they are absolutely right. However, to say thatplaying four crucial matches at home does not give a team an advantagewould be naive.Coming to the final day of the big match the Ranji final. Railwayswere 91/4 chasing 223 for victory. This left the visiting side 142runs to score, with six wickets in hand to secure their maiden RanjiTrophy victory. Yere Goud and Sudhir Wankhede, both recognisedbatsmen, with Shreyas Khanolkar and Santosh Sahu still to come, beganthe proceedings for Railways. In just the third over of the day, aquick one from Zaheer Khan sneaked through the gate of a driving Goud.A loud shout for caught behind was upheld by umpire Jasbir Singh andthe rot had begun. Television replays suggested that the ball brushedthe pad, missing the bat altogether. Khanolkar was the next to go,given out leg before wicket to a ball from left arm speedster ZaheerKhan. Bowling from over the wicket, Zaheer Khan rapped the pads ofKhanolkar, with the ball slanting well across the right hander. Upwent the finger once more.Three decisions followed, with only one being a clear cut dismissal.At the end of the day, Railways had lost by the narrow margin of 21runs and were a very angry lot. Murali Kartik was demonstrative on thefield when given out while others were a bit more restrained. Themanager of the team, Kamlesh Gupta went to the extent of protesting tothe match observer Rakesh Shukla even as the game was in progress.However, there is no provision for the match observer to intervenewhile a match is in progress and the matter was laid to rest.The official complaint is still on the record. Nothing has happened ofit. In all likelihood, nothing ever will.Baroda are the Ranji champions for the year 2000-01. One has to saythough, it is without the usual fanfare and without the usual kudos.The Ranji Trophy triumph is still a major achievement. No one can takeanything away from Baroda on that count. However, the manner in whichthe Trophy was lifted makes it glint a little less bright as the sunsets on the 2000-01 Indian domestic season.