Kerala cricket’s big leap

As Kerala battles Vidarbha in the Ranji final, a state once indifferent to domestic cricket now watches with bated breath.

Not more than 50 spectators typically turn up to watch Ranji Trophy games at the St Xavier’s College ground in Thumba, which has hosted most of Kerala’s matches over the last decade. Yet, in the past three weeks, Kerala cricket has captured the imagination of the state like never before. The reason? The team’s historic entry into the Ranji Trophy final for the first time, where they are battling Vidarbha at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

Suddenly, questions like, “Where can we watch Kerala’s Ranji matches or at least follow the scores?” are being asked not just by cricket enthusiasts but even by those who take little interest in it.

The mobile app and TV channel live-streaming the matches have seen a massive surge in viewership, with over 5 lakh subscribers tuning in on average for the semifinal and final. The buzz around Kerala cricket has been so intense in the state that it even overshadowed the Indian team’s victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai last Sunday.

For a team that had reached the semifinals only once and the quarterfinals twice in its Ranji Trophy history—and struggled to make the knockouts in the last four seasons—this remarkable journey to the final has been nothing short of a fairytale.

Led by Sachin Baby, the team achieved this feat with minimal contribution from their star batsman, Sanju Samson, who played just one match due to international commitments and injury.

Former India pacer Tinu Yohannan, who has closely observed Kerala cricket over the past decade in various coaching roles, attributes this success to a transformation within the team. “Mutual trust has been a key factor, something that was missing in previous Kerala teams.

The communication between the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), team management, and players has been clear. The management set certain standards and ensured they were upheld. Players were backed, and they no longer had to eye spots in the playing XI. This allowed them to play to their potential,” said Tinu, who coached Andhra this season.

While the team’s composition hasn’t changed much, the contributions from professional guest players like Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate—Kerala’s highest wicket-takers this season—have been invaluable. Homegrown talents such as Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, MD Nidheesh, Sachin Baby, and Akshay Chandran have also delivered when it mattered most.

A significant share of the credit for this collective performance goes to coach Amay Khurasiya. The former India international, who is coaching a domestic side for the first time, took charge just three weeks before the season began. Despite the limited preparation time, the Madhya Pradesh southpaw ensured a remarkable turnaround.
“I interviewed Amay before appointing him as coach.

Our visions matched. We told him our focus must be on the Ranji Trophy as Kerala had already done well in the white-ball format. He deserves credit for changing the way players think and approach the game. He treats seniors and juniors equally and pushes them to work hard. We also ensured that performers from junior tournaments got opportunities at the senior level,” said KCA secretary Vinod Kumar.
Sachin Baby, the team captain, echoed these sentiments.

“Discipline has been the key. Our training sessions have become more rigorous, and the coach has fostered team unity. He’s a tough taskmaster but has brought out the best in us,” said Baby.

Mohammed Azharuddeen, one of the stars of the season, praised Khurasiya’s motivational skills. “When we’re under pressure, he shows us videos of teams and players in similar situations. It lifts our spirits and pushes us to give our all on the field,” said the wicketkeeper-batter, who ranks Khurasiya alongside Dav Whatmore as the best coaches he’s worked with.

Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup triumph inspired a generation of Indians to take up cricket, while MS Dhoni’s twin World Cup wins (2007 T20 and 2011 ODI) further cemented the sport’s popularity.

Similarly, Kerala’s historic run in the Ranji Trophy could have a ripple effect, inspiring more youngsters to embrace the game and the empty stands of Thumba may soon echo with the cheers of a newfound fanbase, as Kerala cricket steps into the national spotlight.