For many of those who have played and followed the game, Test cricket remains the pinnacle. The advent of T20 and other shorter formats ma...
For many of those who have played and followed the game, Test cricket remains the pinnacle. The advent of T20 and other shorter formats may have gained prominence over the years but it’s hard to imagine the allure of red-ball cricket fading away. After all, it poses a test like no other for the players. One has to attack, defend, persevere and excel for long periods and despite the tussle for days on end, a Test match victory is fickle enough to slip away from one’s grasp in a matter of moments. The thrill of a closely-contested Test is unparalleled.
One such unforgettable advertisement for red-ball cricket was the 1991 Ranji Trophy final between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Haryana at the Wankhede Stadium. For those invested in Indian domestic cricket, it remains one of the great matches. It ended, on May 7, in front of a packed stadium with over 20,000 spectators, with just 14 deliveries remaining when the result was decided on the last day, with the margin of victory for Haryana being just two runs, and an inconsolable Dilip Vengsarkar on his knees.
Also read – Overshadowed by time: Dilip Vengsarkar, the batsman, deserves a lot more credit
Unlike recent years, where the absence of big players in prominent matches has...
