"The national tournament is being greatly devalued" - Sunil Gavaskar on youth and shadow tours coinciding with Ranji Trophy season 

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has rued the lack of some familiar names right at the start of the Ranji Trophy, with most of the star players either involved in the Test series against New Zealand or the ongoing Emerging Players Asia Cup. The prestigious domestic red-ball competition kickstarted on October 11 and has witnessed some high-profile players as part of the BCCI mandate.

The Tilak Varma-led India youth side are currently in Oman for their Asia Cup campaign. On the other hand, the Indian Test squad is unavailable, with two more matches against New Zealand remaining.

Gavaskar remarked that the Ranji Trophy is being 'devalued' with players being taken away for other assignments.

"Even as India plays the current series against New Zealand, some of our players are competing in the Emerging Players Asia Cup. The Ranji Trophy season has begun, and if players are being taken away to play in events like this, then the national tournament is being greatly devalued," Gavaskar wrote in his column on Sportstar.

India kickstarted their Emerging Asia Cup campaign with a nervy win over Pakistan A and will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman in their remaining group-stage matches.

The Ranji Trophy will witness the absence of one more reputed player after Washington Sundar was called up to the main squad for the New Zealand Tests.

"No other major country treats its national tournament as cavalierly as India does" - Sunil Gavaskar

High-profile Australian players like Nathan Lyon, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith are all partaking in the Sheffield Shield to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar series.

There is a chance for the Indian red-ball players to do something similar in the gap after the New Zealand Tests. Virat Kohli was even named in the list of probable for the Delhi team ahead of the season.

"Next month, there’s a needless four-match T20 series in South Africa before the tour to Australia. There will also be an ‘A’ team touring Australia next month, so effectively about 50 to 60 players will not be available for their State teams in the premier national tournament, the Ranji Trophy. No other major country treats its national tournament as cavalierly as India does," Gavaskar concluded in his column.

The BCCI has prioritized domestic competitions of late, making it mandatory for contracted players to make their presence felt unless they are involved in national duty or dealing with an injury.