Mumbai Chief Selector Slams India Stars for Lack of Involvement in Ranji Trophy, Says 'Needs To Be Fixed'

Mumbai's failure to defend their Ranji Trophy title has led to strong criticism from the team's chief selector, Sanjay Patil, who expressed disappointment over the lack of involvement from international players.

He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee to closely monitor international cricketers when they return to domestic cricket.

"Firstly, I congratulate Ajit Agarkar (chief national selector), Jay Shah (former BCCI secretary), and all the BCCI authorities who forced all the big cricketers to represent their respective state teams. Every cricketer owes most of his achievements to his own state," Patil told Sportstar.

However, Patil pointed out that while the international players did participate in the domestic circuit, their performances were far from satisfactory. "But whenever all the internationals were made to play domestic cricket, they merely participated in these games instead of being involved. The legacy of Mumbai cricket - especially when it comes to international stars' involvement in Mumbai cricket - was not at all seen and it needs to be fixed."

He urged the BCCI to ensure that international players take their domestic commitments seriously. "I have a request for the association to make sure the international stars are made aware of it. Otherwise, it becomes unfair on the team and the rising stars. Our association has always stood by us but had no option due to the BCCI diktat. They were asked to play and they did, mostly for the sake of it."

Mumbai's campaign saw top players like Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal participate in the penultimate league match against Jammu & Kashmir, which they lost. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube featured in the quarterfinal win over Haryana and the semifinal loss to Vidarbha. Notably, Jaiswal left the squad just before the semifinal.

Patil did not hold back his frustration. "[I am] Very upset with the way they played [in the Ranji Trophy]. It was something that's not expected from Test players and the so-called Indian cricketers. The kind of dedication we experienced from our seniors was never on display from the current lot. If you are joining the team and are happy only to be signing autographs, it speaks volumes about you," he said.

Comparing Mumbai's attitude to their opponents in the semifinal, Patil highlighted the stark difference. "That was the biggest difference between Vidarbha and Mumbai in the semifinals. The greed and grit to win was never seen in the semifinal, or throughout since the second half of the Ranji Trophy. [I am] Totally upset with all the big players, including Suryakumar Yadav."

With Mumbai falling short of expectations, Patil's remarks underscore the growing concerns over how India's top players approach domestic cricket and whether they are truly invested in helping their state teams succeed.