Game Time: Why IPL-bound cricketers are skipping Ranji Trophy

Since its establishment in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has emerged as the foremost T20 cricket tournament globally, gradually overshadowing longer domestic competitions. Last month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the wealthiest cricket board worldwide, addressed this issue by warning players against favoring IPL over domestic cricket.As a deterrent, two young players, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, were excluded from their list of central contracts for missing Ranji Trophy matches this season. A recent analysis by the Indian Express highlights the extent of this problem: out of the 165 Indian cricketers enlisted for IPL 2024, 56 didn't participate in any Ranji matches, with an additional 25 featuring in just one game.This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath are joined by Indian Express’ Pratyush Raj to discuss this issue and how it is affecting the sport. Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar