Ajinkya Rahane explained why he wants to have five-day games in the Ranji Trophy.
Ajinkya Rahane called for all Ranji Trophy matches to be played over five days like Test matches to get results after Mumbai failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the ongoing Ranji Trophy in 2022–23.
The veteran Indian batter said that getting results in a four-day period becomes challenging, so it would be great to have five days for the Ranji Trophy matches.
However, the right-hander admitted that it would be really tough to fit the five-day Ranji matches into the calendar, but it is the need of first-class cricket to develop the domestic cricketers as Test players.
As reported by Times of India, Ajinkya Rahane said: “First-Class cricket can become five-day cricket. We play Test matches over five days and in five days the possibility of a result is almost guaranteed. Every game should be result-oriented. In four-day games, on flat decks, you don't really get results.”
He continued, “We tried to get as many results as possible but it becomes challenging. In five-day cricket, that will happen more frequently. I don't know how it can be fit into the calendar, but five-day cricket will help domestic cricketers to get used to the rigours of First-Class cricket.”
Rahane signed off by saying, “If you play out a session, you can save a match in four-day games but if you are made to slog for three more sessions, it will give them a better opportunity to develop as Test players. How to survive sessions, how to bowl with discipline, all these factors can be taken care of. Quarterfinals onwards, all games are five-day games anyway. It can be done in the league stage too.”