PANAJI
Cricket lovers in Panjim will be in for a treat as big-time cricket returns to the state’s capital after long time. The picturesque Bhausaheb Bandodkar ground at Panjim Gymkhana, Campal will host a Ranji Trophy match after a gap of 18 years when Goa will face Nagaland on October, 26-29 2024.
Goa has been placed along with Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim in the Ranji Plate group this season. It is interesting to note that former Goa captain Swapnil Asnodkar will don the role of batting coach of Nagaland for this season.
Panjim Gymkhana has hosted 24 first-class matches from 1986-87 to 2005-06 season. However, Goa has won just 3 of those matches, losing on 9 occasions with the remaining 12 matches ending in a draw. The inaugural first-class match played at this venue was during the 1986-87 Ranji season when Goa played Tamil Nadu.
The last Ranji game played here was between Goa and Himachal Pradesh on January 17 - 20, 2006. Despite Swapnil Asnodkar's heroic 77 and Narayan Kambli's 5-wicket haul, Himachal Pradesh won that match by 6 wickets.
Even Goa’s first victory in Ranji Trophy was achieved at this venue when the Goan side defeated the mighty Karnataka by an innings and 81 runs during 1996-97 season. VB Chandrasekhar's brilliant knock of 88 runs and Gokulakrishnan's 11-wicket match haul were instrumental in that memorable victory for Goa.
Among other famous matches played at the Bhausaheb Bandokar ground was the four-day match played between the touring New Zealand side and Tamil Nadu in November 1988. Tamil Nadu were the Ranji Trophy champions during the 1987-88 season. The New Zealand team who won that match had some of the legendary cricketers in its rank such as Richard Hadlee, John Wright, Mark Greatbatch and Ken Rutherford.
Panjim Gymkhana has also hosted Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy matches. Many Indian cricketing greats have played at this venue. These include Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Chandu Borde, Poly Umrigar, Vijay Merchant, Dilip Sardesai, Farokh Engineer, Dilip Vengsarkar, Abbas Ali Baig, M L Jaisimha, Eknath Solkar, Ashok Mankad, Sandip Patil, Mohammed Azharuddin, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and VVS Laxman.
A premier sporting club, the Panjim Gymkhana got a facelift when then Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the new sports complex on 26 January 2018.
A brain-child of Dayanand Bandodkar, the first Chief Minister of Goa, Daman & Diu, Panjim Gymkhana was built in 1968. Over the last six decades, the sporting facilities created at this venue have gone a long way in helping budding sporting talent in Goa. No wonder then, Panjim Gymkhana has contributed over 40 Ranji players to the state of Goa.
As one of Goa’s most iconic sporting venues gears up to host a Ranji Trophy game once again after many years, it brings back a lot of cricketing memories and a sense of nostalgia.
Goa’s Ranji Trophy Schedule:
Goa vs Manipur, October 11-14, 2024, Porvorim
Goa vs Sikkim, October 18-21, 2024, Sikkim
Goa vs Nagaland, October 26-29, 2024, Panjim Gymkhana
Goa vs Mizoram, November 6-9, 2024, Mizoram
Goa vs Arunachal Pradesh, November 13-16, 2024, Porvorim
