"Ranji Trophy is very Important, presence of Virat-Rohit a huge boost for young players": Piyush Chawla

Speaking to ANI at an event organized by Harfun, Chawla also discussed the evolving dynamics of the Ranji Trophy with the return of senior Indian players.

Chawla emphasized the significance of the Ranji Trophy in shaping young cricketers, particularly with the presence of experienced Indian stars.

"Ranji is very important. You play on different pitches, different types of grounds, and face different kinds of bowlers. Recently, we have seen players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli participating, which is a huge learning opportunity for young players. Getting to play alongside these legends helps them develop their game in a big way," he said.

With the BCCI making domestic cricket mandatory for international stars, players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul have returned to the Ranji Trophy, bringing a new competitive edge to the format.

However, the performances of senior players in domestic cricket have been mixed. Rohit and Yashasvi failed to leave a mark in their first innings against Jammu & Kashmir, scoring three and four, respectively. Rohit showed some promise in the second innings with a quick 28 off 35 balls but couldn't steer his team to victory. Jaiswal, too, struggled, managing just 26 in his second outing.

Fans took over the Arun Jaitley Stadium to get a glimpse of Virat Kohli weaving his magic with the bat for Delhi for the first time since 2012. However, they were left disappointed after Virat's stump was knocked off by Himanshu Sangwan at a mere score of 6.

With a flawless position and technique, Virat executed a picture-perfect straight drive to find the boundary rope. But on the following delivery, Sangwan pulled his length back to beat Virat's bat and send the off-stump cartwheeling in the air. With a look of disbelief on the faces of fans, Virat returned with a score of 6(14).

Since 2020, he has played 39 Tests, scoring 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties. His highest score in this period is 186.

Kohli ended the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with 751 runs in 14 matches at an average of 32.65, including two centuries and three fifties. His struggles extended across all formats, as he finished 2024 with just 655 international runs in 23 matches at a poor average of 21.83.

In 10 Tests last year, Kohli managed only 417 runs at an average of 24.52, scoring just one century and a single fifty, marking one of the most challenging years of his illustrious career.

Chawla himself remains one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history. As of May 2024, he is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 184 wickets. Additionally, he holds a special place in Kolkata Knight Riders' history, having scored the winning runs in the 2014 IPL final, securing the championship for his team.

Looking ahead to the ICC Champions Trophy, Chawla believes India has a strong and balanced squad but insists that knockout matches come down to performance on the day.

"The Champions Trophy is all about how you play your cricket on that particular day. The team looks very good and balanced. We are obviously expecting to finish in the top four, but after that, it's all about the knockouts. It comes down to how the team performs on that given day," he remarked.

India has named a strong 15-member squad for the tournament, featuring stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. Youngsters such as Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh have also been included, adding fresh energy to the squad.

One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament will take place on February 23, when India faces arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The clash is expected to be a key encounter in determining the knockout-stage qualifications for both teams.

Chawla also spoke about the brand's innovative approach to professional wear.

"Comfort is very important. The lightweight and stretchable fabric make a huge difference. When you have to wear something for six to eight hours, it should be comfortable. Harfun has designed an outfit that you can wear on a flight and head straight to an event without needing to change--it's that comfortable," he said.

Harfun's Co-Founder and CEO, Saurabh Agrawal, highlighted the company's commitment to revolutionizing men's formal wear.

"The past three years have been remarkable for us. It has been a thrilling ride of relentless innovation and ideation as we worked towards changing the men's wardrobe and shaping a new trend in workwear. We call this WorkWear 2.0--an evolution in formal fashion that prioritizes both style and comfort. We are excited about the future and will continue innovating based on customer needs and feedback," the CEO stated, as per quoted from Harfun.

With domestic cricket gaining prominence once again and India preparing for a high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy campaign, Chawla's insights shed light on the evolving cricketing landscape and the impact of seasoned players on the next generation. (ANI)