Latest news with #BuchiBabuInvitationalTournament
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Prithvi Shaw starts life post Mumbai exit with Maharashtra debut at Buchi Babu Invitational
Prithvi Shaw will make his debut for Maharashtra at the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai set to be played from August 18 to September 9. This will be Shaw's first tournament for the side, having moved from Mumbai in July. Shaw is looking to reignite his career in top-level cricket after a torrid season last year in which he was dropped by Mumbai due to issues with his fitness and discipline. Ruturaj Gaikwad is also named in the squad, with the tournament marking the first time he plays any top-level cricket since suffering an elbow injury that had ruled him out halfway through the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It had resulted in MS Dhoni making a comeback into the role of Chennai Super Kings captain for the remainder of the season. However, Gaikwad and wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale are expected to exit the squad after the first match, having been selected to play for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy. West Zone have received direct entry into the semi-finals and will play their first game on September 4. Shaw had been granted a no-objection certificate from Mumbai to change teams in June. 'At this stage of my career, I believe joining the Maharashtra team will help me grow further as a cricketer,' Shaw said in a statement. 'I am deeply grateful to the Mumbai Cricket Association for the opportunities and support I have received over the years.' Maharashtra Cricket president Rohit Pawar said Shaw's international and IPL experience would be valuable and the team would stand 'firmly behind Prithvi in his new journey' for the seasons ahead. Widely rated as one of the most exciting young talents in the world during his teenage years, Shaw's international career petered out after five Tests, six ODIs and a T20I, with his last match for India coming in July 2021. He remained prolific in the domestic scene for a couple of years after that as well before his sharp decline last season. Shaw has 4556 runs in 58 first-class appearances at 46.02, scoring 13 centuries and 18 half-centuries with a highesgt score of 379. In List-A games, he has 3399 runs at 55.72 and a strike-rate of 125.74. In T20s, his 2902 runs have come at a strike-rate of 151.54 and average of 25.01. He was unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Shaw was captain of the Indian team that won the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, with current Test captain Shubman Gill being the player of the tournament. Ankit Bawane (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Siddhesh Veer, Sachin Dhas, Arshin Kulkarni, Harshal Kate, Siddharth Mhatre, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Vicky Ostwal, Hitesh Walunj, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Prithvi Shaw to make Maharashtra debut in Buchi Babu Tournament
Prithvi Shaw is all set to make his first appearance for Maharashtra as he's been named in the 17-member squad for the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament. Shaw parted ways with Mumbai earlier this year to join Maharashtra after being ignored for the majority of the previous domestic 25-year-old will be desperate to make a fresh start after a forgettable last season with Mumbai, as he was reportedly dropped on the grounds of fitness and discipline issues. Shaw will be playing under the leadership of Ankit Bawane in a squad which also features Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament has been scheduled to be played in Chennai from August 18 to September last played in the warm-up matches between India A and India ahead of the Test series in England, will also be keen to make his mark. However both Gaikwad and keeper Saurabh Nawale are expected to leave after playing one game as they would need to link up with the West Zone squad in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy. West Zone have received direct entry into the semi-finals and will play their first game on September 4. Maharashtra Squad: Ankit Bawane (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Siddhesh Veer, Sachin Dhas, Arshin Kulkarni, Harshal Kate, Siddharth Mhatre, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Vicky Ostwal, Hitesh Walunj, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar- Ends
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Prithvi Shaw IN, Ruturaj Gaikwad NOT Made Captain: Maharashtra's Buchi Babu Squad
Last Updated: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw are in Maharashtra's squad for the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament. Ankit Bawane will lead. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw were among those named in Maharashtra's 17-member squad for the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, which will be played in Chennai from August 18 to September 9. Senior, 32-year-old batter Ankit Bawane will lead the team. For Shaw, this will be the first assignment for Maharashtra after he left rivals Mumbai at the start of the season, looking for a fresh start. Though supremely talented and an Indian international, Shaw has been in the headlines more for controversies than his performances for the last few years. 'At this juncture in my career, I have been presented with a promising opportunity to play professional cricket under another State Association, which I believe will further contribute to my growth and development as a cricketer," he said when the move as announced. '…I am confident that being part of such a progressive setup will positively impact my journey as a cricketer. I'm happy to get the opportunity to play alongside talented players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne, Rahul Tripathi, Rajneesh Gurbani, and Mukesh Choudhary in the Maharashtra team." The overall set-up looks strong and with a mix of experienced pros alongside talented youngsters like Arshin Kulkarni and Rajvardhan Hangargekar, who'd be looking at this opportunity to further their case for state selections and eventually the IPL. : Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad not the captain for the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament? Gaikwad would also be looking to make a mark after being on India's fringes for a few months. However, he'll have to do it in a new role. He and wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale will leave the squad after playing just one game to link up with the West Zone squad in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy. West Zone has received direct entry into the semi-finals and will play their first game on September 4. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Prithvi Shaw takes first big step after Mumbai exit
Prithvi Shaw (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: India batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw have been named in Maharashtra's 17-member squad for the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, to be held in Chennai from August 18 to September 9. Ankit Bawane will lead the side. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! For Shaw, this will be his first assignment since moving from Mumbai to Maharashtra ahead of the season. The 25-year-old will be looking for a fresh start after a difficult previous season with Mumbai, where he was dropped over concerns related to fitness and discipline. Gaikwad, who recently featured in the warm-up games between India A and India ahead of the national team's Test series in England, will also aim to make an impact. Poll Who do you think will have the bigger impact in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament? Ruturaj Gaikwad Prithvi Shaw Both will shine Neither will perform Both Gaikwad and wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale are expected to be available for only one game before joining the West Zone squad in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy. West Zone have a direct entry into the semi-finals and will play their first match on September 4. Maharashtra squad: Ankit Bawane (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Siddhesh Veer, Sachin Dhas, Arshin Kulkarni, Harshal Kate, Siddharth Mhatre, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Vicky Ostwal, Hitesh Walunj, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Why a cricket tournament dating back to 1909 is still the preferred event for state teams to prepare for Ranji Trophy
Mithun Manhas, a former Delhi captain and veteran of 137 first-class matches now in charge of the core group running Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, says his decision to send the state team to the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament was a no-brainer. 'Ahead of the Ranji Trophy, where else will the players get adequate preparation? he asks. Former India all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla, now the Bengal coach, believes the tournament helps players get in optimum condition when the premier first-class competition begins. 'By the time the Ranji Trophy starts, I want my players to be up and running. And for me, a tournament like Buchi Babu is exactly what we wanted as a team,' he says. While the Ranji Trophy is still a couple of months away, the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament beginning on Monday is, in many ways, the ideal starter most state units seek. With the Duleep Trophy beginning towards the end of August and running till September 11, teams will lose their key players to the zonal tournament. And the Buchi Babu event is seen as an ideal way to get into the red-ball groove after the off-season break. 'Psychologically, you need to get ready for red-ball (cricket) or you will be found wanting,' Manhas tells The Indian Express. Having made the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy last season and missing out on a last-four spot by a one-run margin, Manhas has seen what participation in the Buchi Babu Tournament had done to J&K's players last season. With the climate back home not conducive to cricket in the lead-up to the domestic season, playing on red-soil pitches had given the players the exposure needed. It is this experience that helped them beat Mumbai outright in their own den in the Ranji league stages last season. 'We have been getting enough practice but you need to give the players match-time. You can't take anything for granted when it comes to red-ball cricket. At Buchi Babu, we will face quality teams and play in totally different conditions. which is what Ranji Trophy is all about. If we have to build on from where we left last season, our preparation has to be good,' Manhas says. He reckons there are not enough such red-ball tournaments for players to prepare for the domestic season. 'I'm thankful to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for helping us grow. They have found ways to accommodate us and now, we at Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) are exploring the possibility of having a similar tournament in the next two or three years. When we get used to conditions in Chennai, even TNCA would prefer giving their players an opportunity to play on green-tops and seaming pitches,' Manhas says. In 2017, when the TNCA removed the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament from its calendar to accommodate the Tamil Nadu Premier League, it seemed the end of the road for one of the oldest tournaments in India, dating back to 1909. For five years, including two during Covid, there was no sign of the tournament coming back to life. But fast forward to 2025, and the tournament is again an event every state unit wants a piece of. 'We can't hold a parallel Ranji Trophy,' TNCA secretary RI Palani said while announcing the launch of the tournament which will see 16 teams in fray. Having re-started the tournament with 12 teams in 2023 after Covid brought red-ball cricket to a standstill for two successive seasons, in 2024 it had similar playing conditions to the Ranji Trophy. This season, owing to requests from various state units, TNCA has had to accommodate 16 sides. 'Last year, when we had 12 teams, we still had many others showing interest to participate. It was tough to say no to them because we were hosting the tournament in districts (Coimbatore, Salem, Dindigul and Tirunelveli) and didn't have grounds to accommodate everyone. This year too, we have had so many requests that to accommodate one more team, we dropped the idea of fielding a third team from TNCA. With 16 teams in fray, we had to choose Chennai as the host venue even though the MA Chidambaram Stadium is unavailable,' Palani said at the launch event. The reason as many as 14 teams from all over India want to feature in the tournament is obvious. While monetarily the event doesn't offer huge sums to take home (Rs 3 lakh to the winners and Rs 2 lakh for the runners-up), it offers something priceless – good preparation and adequate red-ball game time. With the BCCI bringing forward the Ranji Trophy, the common concern among most state teams is that they haven't had enough preparatory events. In the past, apart from Buchi Babu, there were also the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup in Hyderabad, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Invitational Tournament. While the KSCA continues to host the event, it has become a much smaller tournament. In the north, there is the JP Atray tournament held in Chandigarh and Mohali, but it's a 50-over tournament. With the Duleep Trophy set to follow Buchi Babu and the Ranji Trophy beginning soon after, this event is the last for teams to play as a group and test combinations. Bengal, which had been a regular participant in the past, had declined the invite last season, instead choosing to have a preparatory camp. One of the consistent teams in the last few seasons, they missed out on the knockouts and with Kolkata witnessing heavy rain in recent months, Bengal players needed game time. 'We have been training mostly indoors and on cement pitches with tennis and plastic balls. But that is definitely not enough. It is just one part of preparation. Playing Ranji Trophy will test you in different ways and if we are not prepared, we will find it challenging on the field. We want to expose our players to the pitches in Chennai and get some much-needed practice,' Shukla says. Himachal Pradesh, who have made huge strides in white-ball cricket, were also amongst the teams that expressed their interest to play the Buchi Babu Tournament this year. With the state witnessing heavy rain, they haven't been able to train together adequately. For coach Anul Pal Das, the reason is simple. 'Let's keep aside match preparation and combinations that we want to try before the Ranji Trophy. I want my players to get acclimated to the humid climate. When Ranji happens, we will play in a totally different climate to what we are experiencing here. Playing on red soil means spinners will also be in play and our batsmen will also be tested,' Das says. ********** The tournament was held for the first time in 1909-10, a year after Buchi Babu Naidu – called the father of Madras cricket – passed away, is one of the oldest in the country. Initially featuring local teams, from the 1960s, several Indian stars have participated. Legend has it that when Sunil Gavaskar came after his maiden tour to the West Indies, he was mobbed at one of the venues. Being an invitational event, teams need not pay any participating fee. According to those in the know, teams spend around Rs 25 lakh for accommodation, air travel and local transportation. The TNCA spends about Rs 2 crore for conducting the tournament. Teams in the 2025 edition: 16 TNCA President's XI, Himachal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Indian Railways, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Baroda, TNCA XI, Mumbai, Haryana, Bengal, Hyderabad, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand.
