Ex- IPL Chairman, Ranjit Biswal opens-up to srilankasports.com
By Pranavesh Sivakumar reporting from Bhubaneshwar, India.
India, has been a factory of producing powerful and richly talented cricketers. Not solely as a hard to beat unit, even in the form of the world’s most-lucrative cricket league, Indian Premier League (IPL), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made its mark. Ranjit Biswal, a cricketer-turned-politician, has played a part at the power-house. Srilankasports.com sat down exclusively with India’s one-time U-19 cricket captain, Ranji Trophy player, India’s 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions’ Trophy-winning team’s manager in reflecting on his past, present and future.
Following are the excerpts
Q: Please introduce yourself to us?
A: I’m Ranjit Biswal. I was the IPL chairman, President of Orissa (now Odissa) Cricket Association. Have been the national selector and team manager of the Indian Cricket team.
Q: What’s the cricket-carnival IPL, for you?
A: IPL has turned cricket into a major event to be watched. Bringing financial benefits. Giving young cricketers the platform to perform. To enter the global stage. Local talent becomes excited about playing IPL. It’s not solely about domestic talent, but covering countries from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, Australia, and they have part of a team and playing in solidarity. That paves the path for bonding. Knowing their fellow players. Everyone gets benefited.
Q: What was the role Ranji Trophy played in your association with cricket?
A: Ranji Trophy helps to tap talent from the grass root level. The players not known to the nation. When you play for Ranji Trophy, you may perform or underperform. But, it’s the team or state you represent. In that way, your skill set and ability to play gets noted. You hone your cricketing abilities.
Q: You’ve been the U-19 cricket captain, Manager and selector of two major ICC winning teams. What sweated you the most?
A: Every job has its own specific workspace. Managing a team, one has to really coordinate and organise the players. Put them in the comfort levels. Again, looking at all aspects, all have to be preserved. Being a selector, you’ve to tap talent. You’ve to create a cricket team, that can conquer the world. It’s almost like a talent hunt, where you identify the cream of the crop for India. As a captain, you’ve to lead from the front. You’ve identified the potential. Captain’s job is to create a good bench. So that, cricket is carried forward.
Q: Given that, you’ve devoted yourself with the game, what prompted you till this far?
A: I absolutely love this sports. No doubt over that. I’ve played cricket myself. Hence, I know what nitty-gritty it has. It’s purely passion and love for the sports that prompted me till this far.
Q: You’ve played your part in the gentleman’s game. Now, in a tricky game of politics. What has been the driving force for the latter?
A: Politics and cricket are two different things. In cricket, you play with a straight back, unlike politics. There are situations you’ve to comprehend, what’s happening around you. There are situations
your reluctant but forced to do. Yeah, cricket is much more, straight unlike, politics.
Q: India cricket’s strength and worst weakness?
A: We’ve a very, very good talent. No doubt over that. If you look at the present team, there were vacuum, when the likes of Dravid, Ganguly, Sachin and Sehwag, called it a day. They predicted there may not be successors for them. But, the transition process has been taken-over well, that Virat, Rohit and et al have emerged. Bench strength is very good. Cricket is in safe hands. While the worst weakness is playing a very crowded cricket itinerary. As a result, is the fatigue factors associated with that. The young blood gets burned often. And, strength wise, Indian cricket is a well-organised and well-oiled machine doing well.
Q: India is increasingly becoming tough contenders. Where do you want to see them in the post-World Cup period?
A: We’ve fared well in the test format and, so in the 50-over and T20. But, again, they’ve to be among the top 3 nations. For that, they need to keep winning, keep focused and perform. My aim for India is inside the first 3.
Q: You were a national selector. The most tormenting criticism against you?
A: A selector can only arrive with 15, and not 25. There are talents, that have missed the bus. Our eyes are always on the best 15. That doesn’t mean, players having narrowly missed are bad. But, naturally, when you exclude someone there will be criticism. My thinking and other’s may not be the same. It’s a very difficult situation to give a sense of contentment to all. But, to be very honest, we try to pick and choose the best.
Q: Ravi Shashtri, is the highest paid team director from the richest cricket board. Isn’t he undeservingly and unduly overpaid?
A: No, not at all. You earn more when you’re the commentator. You’ve compensated those, who’s doing the job for you. He represented as a captain and as a player. He has been a tremendous commentator. He’s a good motivator. Thus, I think Ravi deserves, what he’s earning and should be paid more.
Q: For the next edition of the IPL, there are talks election would clash with the dates. If there’s a plan of staging it outside India, won’t it be a big blow for the local spectators?
A: Every 5-years we have an election. IPL is worked-off during the elections. All the security parameters should be abided and adhered, due to the participation of foreign players. Numerous venues that host the league. Since they are scatted all over India. Security forces are left with the multi-task of providing security to the players, venues’ and, at the same time, support the smooth flow of election duties. It always been the case, and might be a repeat of half the games are subject to a foreign venue.
Q: Corruption is common in any cricket board. In the Indian context, what’re the measures you’ve undertaken to curtain the corruption rate?
A: Lots of things have been done. There is a code of conduct. Do’s and the don’ts. Players’ scrutiny has been much harder and sharpened. There will be bad eggs in a basket, though, that doesn’t mean all eggs are bad. As it’s a huge country it’s very difficult, but measures have been taken.
Q: Take home message from you?
A: Cricket is at stake. People fear test will die and so will the 50-over game. Shortest formal will take-over. But, if you see the test is ever-evolving. You experience jam-packed stadiums for 50-50. Gentlemen’s game will last in the years to come. Hence, make hay while the sun shines.
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