As the Indian domestic cricket season looms, state teams across the country are gearing up for the prestigious Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class competition. For many, the ideal launchpad is the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, a storied event dating back to 1909. This year, 16 state teams will converge in Chennai to hone their skills, test combinations, and adapt to red-ball cricket’s demands ahead of the Ranji Trophy, which begins in a couple of months. The tournament’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to provide critical match practice, exposure to diverse conditions, and a platform to prepare psychologically and physically for the grueling domestic season.
A Historical Beacon of Red-Ball Cricket
Named after Buchi Babu Naidu, often hailed as the father of Madras cricket, the tournament was first held in 1909-10, a year after his passing. Initially a local affair, it evolved into a prestigious invitational event by the 1960s, attracting top talent from across India. Legends like Sunil Gavaskar, who was famously mobbed by fans after his maiden West Indies tour, have graced its pitches. Today, it remains a cornerstone of India’s cricketing calendar, offering teams a chance to prepare without the financial burden of participation fees, though teams typically spend around ₹25 lakh on travel and accommodation. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which organizes the event at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore, ensures its accessibility and relevance.
The Ideal Pre-Season Primer
The Buchi Babu Tournament’s timing and format make it an indispensable preparatory event. With the Duleep Trophy, a zonal competition, running from late August to September 11, 2025, many state teams lose key players to national duties. This leaves the Buchi Babu event, starting on Monday, as the primary opportunity for teams to gel as a unit and ease into red-ball cricket after the off-season break. Unlike white-ball tournaments like the JP Atray in Chandigarh or the scaled-down KSCA Invitational in Karnataka, Buchi Babu offers the red-ball game time state units crave.
Mithun Manhas, a veteran of 137 first-class matches and now a key figure in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), underscores its value. “Ahead of the Ranji Trophy, where else will the players get adequate preparation?” he asks. For Manhas, sending the J&K team to Chennai was a “no-brainer.” Last season, participation in the tournament helped J&K reach the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, narrowly missing the semifinals by a single run. The exposure to Chennai’s red-soil pitches, which differ vastly from J&K’s home conditions, was pivotal. “We have been getting enough practice, but you need to give the players match time. You can’t take anything for granted when it comes to red-ball cricket,” Manhas tells The Indian Express. He credits the tournament with preparing his team to stun Mumbai outright in their home den during the Ranji league stages last season.
Adapting to Diverse Conditions
The tournament’s appeal extends beyond match practice. It exposes players to conditions they may not encounter at home, a critical factor given the Ranji Trophy’s diverse venues. Chennai’s red-soil pitches, known for assisting spinners, challenge batsmen and bowlers alike, preparing them for the varied surfaces they’ll face in the domestic season. For teams like Himachal Pradesh, where heavy rain has disrupted pre-season training, the tournament offers a chance to acclimate to humid conditions and refine red-ball skills. Anul Pal Das, Himachal’s coach, emphasizes this: “I want my players to get acclimated to the humid climate. When Ranji happens, we will play in a totally different climate. Playing on red soil means spinners will be in play, and our batsmen will be tested.”
Similarly, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Bengal’s coach and a former India all-rounder, sees the tournament as essential for getting his players “up and running” before the Ranji Trophy. Bengal, a consistent Ranji contender, opted out of last year’s event for a preparatory camp but struggled without adequate game time. Heavy rain in Kolkata forced indoor training on cement pitches with tennis and plastic balls—hardly ideal for red-ball preparation. “Playing Ranji Trophy will test you in different ways, and if we are not prepared, we will find it challenging on the field,” Shukla says. This year, Bengal is back, eager to leverage Chennai’s conditions for much-needed practice.
A Resurgent Tournament
The Buchi Babu Tournament’s resurgence after a hiatus underscores its enduring demand. In 2017, the TNCA shelved the event to accommodate the Tamil Nadu Premier League, raising fears that one of India’s oldest tournaments was finished. The Covid-19 pandemic further delayed its return, halting red-ball cricket for two seasons. However, the TNCA revived it in 2023 with 12 teams, and by 2024, it mirrored Ranji Trophy playing conditions. This year, overwhelming demand from state units pushed the TNCA to expand to 16 teams, including powerhouses like Mumbai, Baroda, and Punjab, alongside emerging sides like Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
TNCA secretary RI Palani explains the logistical challenges: “Last year, we had many teams showing interest, but we didn’t have grounds to accommodate everyone. This year, we’ve had so many requests that we dropped the idea of fielding a third TNCA team to include one more state side.” Despite the unavailability of Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, the TNCA has prioritized hosting the event in the city to meet demand, forgoing plans to spread matches across districts like Coimbatore and Salem.
Filling a Critical Gap
The scarcity of red-ball preparatory tournaments amplifies Buchi Babu’s importance. While the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup in Hyderabad and the KSCA Invitational once served similar roles, they’ve either faded or shifted focus. The Duleep Trophy, while prestigious, doesn’t allow state teams to play as cohesive units. Manhas laments the lack of alternatives: “There are not enough such red-ball tournaments for players to prepare for the domestic season.” He credits the TNCA for its inclusivity, noting that J&K’s participation has spurred discussions about hosting a similar tournament in Jammu and Kashmir within the next few years. “When we get used to conditions in Chennai, even TNCA would prefer giving their players an opportunity to play on green-tops and seaming pitches,” he adds.
A Platform for Growth
For state teams, the tournament’s modest prize money—₹3 lakh for winners and ₹2 lakh for runners-up—pales in comparison to its true value: high-quality red-ball exposure. With the BCCI advancing the Ranji Trophy’s start date, the need for early preparation has intensified. The 16 teams in the 2025 edition, including TNCA President’s XI, Indian Railways, and Jharkhand, will use the event to test strategies and build momentum. For emerging teams like J&K and Himachal, it’s a chance to compete against stronger sides, while established units like Bengal and Mumbai aim to fine-tune their squads.
Manhas encapsulates the tournament’s psychological edge: “You need to get ready for red-ball cricket, or you will be found wanting.” As teams descend on Chennai, the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament remains a vital proving ground, bridging the gap between off-season rust and Ranji Trophy readiness. Its legacy, rooted in over a century of cricketing tradition, continues to shape the aspirations of state teams across India.
