A heartening story

In a tournament gradually legitimising bizarre shots, chances are that spin-bowling’s most enigmatic eccentricity might pass unnoticed. Sumit Khatri is only a fringe-local featuring on the Rajasthan Royals’ extended roster of 25 and the only chinaman bowler in the IPL. But his oddity may be lost, especially since Khatri might not see any real action in the tournament. Even some cricket websites have slotted the left-armer as right medium-pacer or off-break bowler.

In itself, the above article is heartening.. Young kid with talent, being groomed by one of the legends of the game.

But what the above article ( and similar articles in various media outlets), in conjunction with the IPL, is doing is to bring to focus previously unknown players onto the public domain.

Think Abhishek Nayar. How many outside of the die hard Mumbai fans had either heard of or knew him before the IPL?

And because they know of him now, and have seen him in action, how many more will throng the gates come this Ranji season?

And that, I believe is one of the most important gains of the IPL - people can actually relate to players ( especially the fringe ones) and this, in turn can lead to better viewership of the Ranji's ( only because people will not only associate the player with their Ranji team but their IPL team as well and will be interested in the progress made by the said player during the Ranji and the off season).

As it is, the last two Ranji seasons have been phenomenal in terms of contests, but have done poorly in the ratings because of a lack of marketing and a lack of awareness of the players or the teams.

Taken together, there is something that the BCCI can capitalize on.

Will the BCCI step up to the plate and market the domestic season with even half the vigor of the IPL?