A fresh season of Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is set to get underway with cricketers from across India dreaming of impressing the selectors for a call-up to the national team. Score tons of runs, take bucketful of wickets and enter the national reckoning, right? It’s much more than that if a former national selector is to be believed.

According to this former India Test cricketer who has in the past has been part of the BCCI’s committee of selectors, merely scoring 500-plus runs or taking 40-plus wickets during a season aren’t enough to graduate from domestic to international level. He gives the examples of domestic stalwarts Jalaj Saxena and Milind Kumar to make his case.

“If runs and wickets alone would have been a marker then Milind Kumar or Jalaj Saxena would have played for India,” the former national selector was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The former India cricketer explained how performing in adverse conditions – scoring century on a green-top or troubling batters on a flat pitch – is what catches the attention.

“If a batter has scored only 500 runs in a season but there is hundred on a green-top against good domestic attack and 60-odd on a proverbial akhaada (rank turner), his name would find a place in selector’s notebook for India A and pathways programme,” he said.

“Similarly, if a fast bowler is running in and making things happen on a batting belter with sun beating down, he will automatically grab eyeballs. It is all about adaptability and challenging yourself to get out of your comfort zone. If it’s a flat deck, then show your stamina and score a triple even when you are suffering from cramps,” he added.

Selectors keep a watchful eye on those players whose skillsets meet the requirements of the Indian team.

“To play for India, show that you are different. All selectors have specific names in mind when they go for an assignment. Yes, they look at all players, but focus would be on what national team requirements are,” the selector concluded.