Bizarre controversy in cricket as two Bihar teams turn up for Bihar-Mumbai clash in Ranji Trophy resulting in brawl

Bizarre controversy in cricket as two Bihar teams turn up for Bihar-Mumbai clash in Ranji Trophy resulting in brawl

Bihar were the Ranji Trophy plate group champions in 2022/23 (Image via ESPN)

Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq stadium was all set to host its first Ranji Trophy match in over 27 years on 5th January, 2024. For years it had only hosted district and state level matches. It had even hosted two matches during the 1996 World Cup, but was left without any big matches for years. After the Bihar team was made into the Jharkhand cricket team in 2004, the state was without a team for 14 years.

After being reinstated in 2018, Bihar hadn’t played in the Moin-ul-Haq stadium till 2024. Days before their Ranji fixture with Mumbai, videos of the poor condition of the stadium went viral. Things got worse just before the start of the game. 

YouTube video

When the Mumbai squad were warming up, two Bihar squads turned up to the stadium. One was the official team selected by the Bihar Cricket Association and one selected by the suspended secretary. The official team had players such as Ashutosh Aman, former KKR bowler Veer Pratap Singh and 12-year-old prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Sakib Hussain, who was just purchased in the IPL, was also in the squad.

The suspended secretary, Amit Kumar, claimed that he wasn’t suspended. He further added that his team should be selected as it was always the secretary who signs off the selection of the team, like Jay Shah. Rakesh Tiwary, the President of the BCA, had to remind everyone how his team was the official one, stating he had Aman, Suryavanshi and an IPL player in the squad. Things escalated when Kumar attacked a BCA committee member along with some people. They got arrested and booked, but the play was delayed for 2 hours. 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi debuts at the age of 12 years 184 days 

Young cricket prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, made his first class debut for Bihar on 5th December, 2024. Born on March 27, 2011, just days before India won the 2011 ODI World Cup, he was given a bat at the tender age of 5. His father, who had promised to make one of his children cricketers after failing to become one, realized the potential his son had. 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Vaibhav Suryavanshi while representing India B (Image via ESPN)

The left-hander was coached by Sudhakar Roy, father of Jharkhand all-rounder Anukul Roy for a couple of years. He then was coached by Manish Ojha, a coach in Patna. The city was a 3-hour bus ride away from Samastipur, the hometown of the young cricketer. The two traveled thrice a week. 

Lockdown became an issue for Suryavanshi, but his father didn’t let that be an hindrance to his practice. After hearing how Shubman Gill used to practice pace on cement pitches, his father did the same. 

The young cricketer recently played for India B in the U-19 Quadrangular series. They faced the A side of India, England and Bangladesh. VVS Laxman and Wasim Jaffer, who were coaches for India A and Bangladesh A, were impressed with the youngster. On his Ranji debut for Bihar, the youngster score 19 off 28 before being dismissed by Shivam Dube. After bowling out Mumbai for just 251, Bihar are in trouble as they finish the 2nd day being 89/6. Former Indian cricketers, Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni are not a part of the playing XI.

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