The venerable tradition of domestic cricket in India, once the cradle of cricketing talent and the lifeblood of the sport`s grassroots, appears to be undergoing a subtle but discernible transformation. The ebb in its prominence within the realm of Indian cricket is indicative of a paradigm shift in ‘priorities’, propelled by the allure of international leagues and the burgeoning dominance of franchise-based T20 tournaments.

“Cricket has lost its sheen now. Players are only after money, and hence lose form so easily. It has to be a dedicated practice, and much like other things, there is always room for improvement in one’s game. I have nothing against the IPL, but it is like a double-edged sword. Unfortunately, most youngsters look forward to performing well here rather than a Ranji or Deodhar or Syed Mushtaq (Trophy). It looks like domestic cricket is no more in the scheme of things,” opined Rajeev Mahto, a former Bihar Ranji cricketer.