Latest news with #BuchiBabuTournament
Indian Express
5 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.
India.com
6 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
CSK Star Ayush Mhatre To Lead Mumbai In THIS Tournament; Check Details
Young opening batter Ayush Mhatre will lead the Mumbai side in the annual Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, beginning in Chennai later this month. The Mumbai squad also features Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. After making his first-class debut last season for Mumbai, Mhatre went on to make his mark in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and was later named captain of the India U-19 team, which went to England for a multi-format tour. The 17-year-old Mhatre will also lead India in another multi-format tour of Australia, starting September 21. On the other hand, Suved Parkar has been named vice-captain of the Mumbai for the Buchi Babu Tournament, which is organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, will be held in Chennai from August 18 to September 9. Meanwhile, Sai Kishore and Pradosh Rajan Paul will captain the two Tamil sides in the tournament. Mumbai squad: Ayush Mhatre (captain), Musheer Khan, Divyansh Saxena, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parker (vice-captain), Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Harsh Aghav, Sairaj Patil, Aakash Parkar, Aakash Anand (WK), Hardik Tamore (WK), Shreyas Gurav, Yash Dicholkar, Himanshu Singh, Roystan Dias, Sylvester Dsouza and Irfan Umair. TNCA President's XI: Sai Kishore (c), Andre Siddarth, Baba Indrajith, Vijay Shankar, Shahrukh Khan, Vimal Khumar, Radhakrishnan S, Lokeshwar S, Ajitesh G, Hemchudeshan J, Siddharth M, Ambrish RS, Achyuth CV, Trilok Nag H, Saravana Kumar P and Abhinav K TNCA XI: Pradosh Ranjan Paul (c), Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, Sachin B, Tushar Raheja, Kiran Karthikeyan, Mohamed Ali S, Rithik Easwaran S, Athish SR, Lakshay Jain S, Chandrasekar DT, Vidyuth P, Sonu Yadav, Deepesh D, Prem Kumar J, Esakkimuthu A and Lokesh Raj TD
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Buchi Babu Trophy 2025: Full schedule, teams, groups, format, live streaming info
The All India Buchi Babu Invitational Cricket Tournament 2025 will be hosted by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) from August 18 to September 9. Named after Mothavarapu Venkata Mahipathi Naidu, considered the father of cricket in Tamil Nadu, the Buchi Babu tournament was first held in 1909/10. Last season, it returned after a hiatus of 12 years. This season, fourteen teams will take part in the competition along with two teams picked by the TNCA - President's XI and TNCA XI. The tournament will be held at multiple venues across Chennai. The winner will take home Rs. 3 lakh while the runner-up will get Rs. 2 lakh. Format The 16 teams will be divided into four group of four each. Each team will play the other three in its group once. The league stage games will be played over three days. The first innings of each team will comprise 90 overs, while the second innings will comprise 45 overs each. The knockout matches will be four-day contests. With both innings lasting 90 overs. The winner of each group will advance to the semifinal. Groups Group A: TNCA President's XI, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra Group B: Railways, Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda, Odisha Group C: TNCA XI, Mumbai, Haryana, Bengal Group D: Hyderabad, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand. Schedule Round 1 (August 18-20) TNCA President's XI vs HPCA at Gojan College A Ground TNCA XI vs Mumbai at Gojan College B Ground Chhattisgarh vs Maharashtra at Gurunanak College Jammu & Kashmir vs Indian Railways at MRF-Pachiyappa's Odisha vs Baroda at CPT IP Haryana vs Bengal at AM Jain College MPCA vs Jharkhand at SRM College Hyderabad vs Punjab at Murugappa Ground Round 2 (August 22 to 24) TNCA XI vs Haryana at Gojan College A Ground TNCA President's XI vs Maharashtra at Gojan College B Ground Hyderabad vs Jharkhand at Gurunanak College Punjab vs MPCA at MRF-Pachiyappa's Chhattisgarh vs HPCA at SSN College Jammu & Kashmir vs Baroda at Murugappa Ground Mumbai vs Bengal at IIT Madras Indian Railways vs Odisha at SRM College Round 3 (August 26 to 28) TNCA President's XI vs Chhattisgarh at Gojan College A Ground TNCA XI vs Bengal at Gojan College B Ground Mumbai vs Haryana at MRF-Pachiyappa's Indian Railways vs Baroda at Gurunanak College Hyderabad vs MPCA at AM Jain College Punjab vs Jharkhand at CPT IP Jammu & Kashmir vs Odisha at SSN College Maharashtra vs HPCA at Murugappa Ground Semifinals (August 31 to September 3) Winner of Group A vs Winner of Group B Winner of Group C vs Winner of Group D Final (September 6 to 9) (venues for the knockouts are yet to be confirmed) Live Streaming Info All matches of the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Cricket Tournament 2025 will be streamed live on the TNCA YouTube channel. (With inputs from S. Dipak Ragav) Related Topics Buchi Babu Tournament
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Ayush Mhatre to lead Sarfaraz Khan-starrer Mumbai in Buchi Babu Tournament
Young opening batter Ayush Mhatre was on Tuesday named captain of Mumbai's 17-member squad, which also features India batter Sarfaraz Khan, for the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament beginning in Chennai later this who made his First-Class debut last season for Mumbai, went on to make his mark in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and was later named captain of the India U-19 team, which went to England for a multi-format 17-year-old Mhatre will also lead India in another multi-format tour of Australia starting September 21. On Monday, the right-handed Mhatre smacked 82 off 48 balls for Sainath Sports Club against Dadar Union Sporting Club during a Kanga League B Division clash, which was his first appearance in a local maidan cricket match since being named India U-19 Parkar, who has played eight first-class matches for Mumbai, has been named vice-captain of the team for the Buchi Babu Tournament, scheduled from August 18 to September team also features Musheer Khan, who had missed most of the 2024-25 season due to injuries suffered in a car squad: Ayush Mhatre (c), Musheer Khan, Divyansh Saxena, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parkar (vc), Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Harsh Aghav, Sairaj Patil, Aakash Parkar, Aakash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Shreyas Gurav, Yash Dicholkar, Himanshu Singh, Royston Dias, Sylvester D'Souza, Irfan Umair.- Ends
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Ayush Mhatre to lead Mumbai in Buchi Babu Tournament
Ayush Mhatre (PTI Photo) MUMBAI: In another boost to his fledgling career, the Mumbai selectors on Tuesday named India's Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre as the skipper of the Mumbai team in the Buchi Babu Tournament in Tamil Nadu. Mumbai will play their first match in the event from Aug 18. The 18-year-old slammed back-to-back centuries in the two Youth tests against the England Under-19 team while leading India the Under-19 team. Mhatre will lead India Under-19 in a multi-format tour of Australia (three one-daygames followed by two four-day matches), which begins on Sept 21 at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The teenaged opener, who made an impressive debut for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is currently in the India Under-19 camp at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and will travel straight from Bengaluru to Chennai for the Buchi Babu tourney. Batter Suved Parker has been named as Mhahtre's deputy. The squad includes the Khan brothers-India's middle-order batter Sarfaraz and his younger brother Musheer too. Mumbai and Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who had returned from the Mumbai Emerging Team's ongoing tour of England due to a thumb injury, has missed out on the tour. Young allrounder Suryansh Shedge, who captained the Mumbai Emerging Team in England, has been excluded. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your New Zealand escape starts with Singapore Airlines Fly with Singapore Airlines Book Now Undo The squad includes two allrounders, Sairaj Patil and Aakash Parkar. Playing for the Eagle Thane Strikers, Patil had won the 'Player of the Tournament' award in the T20 Mumbai League in June, scoring 233 runs and taking seven wickets@16.29 in six matches. Patil has played 10 white-ball matches for Mumbai. The squad: Ayush Mhatre (Captain), Musheer Khan, Divyansh Saxena, Sarfaraz Khan , Suved Parker (Vice Captain), Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Harsh Aghav, Sairaj Patil, Aakash Parkar, Aakash Anand (WK), Hardik Tamore (WK), Shreyas Gurav, Yash Dicholkar, Himanshu Singh, Roystan Dias, Sylvester Dsouza, Irfan Umair. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
