Hopefully, we'll hear honest views on neutral venues issue

The Ranji Trophy quarter-final between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka finished in two days (on December 24 at Visakhapatnam)

Manish Pandey

The Ranji Trophy quarter-final between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka finished in two days (on December 24 at Visakhapatnam).

The Karnataka team had two batsmen who between them had scored 500 runs in the Chennai Test match that finished a few days earlier.

Both of them as well as Manish Pandey who was in the Test match reserves couldn't do much as Karnataka were bundled out for 88.

Not that Tamil Nadu did much better but they got enough of a lead that helped them to win the game with a whisker.

Almost 40 wkts in two days
That almost 40 wickets fell in a Ranji quarter-final in less than two days does bring about the question of playing on neutral venues. Then in another quarter-final, the Gujarat innings was stopped mid-way as the pitch was misbehaving. Since I am away from India, I'm not too sure if the report that the pitch was rolled at that stage is correct. For, if it is, then all one can say is that it is a mockery of the game. How can a pitch be rolled in the middle of a game? Neutral venue again.

Prestigious event, after all
The Ranji Trophy is our national championships which also happens to be the supply line for India's international teams and for the games especially the knockouts to be played on such pitches is just a travesty of the national championship.

I am sure that at the end of the season, a review will be done about the decision of playing at neutral venues and hopefully honest opinions will be expressed at that for that is the only thing that will help make India progress and produce world-class cricketers. Here's wishing all readers a wonderfully happy sporting year ahead.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!