The Ranji Trophy 2024 season kick-started on January 5. In a historic move, to incentivize the players further, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to introduce the ‘Player of the Match’ medals award, in addition to the cash/cheque they get.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the Player of the Match of every game in the Ranji Trophy 2024 will get a medal along with his award prize.
Until last season, the Player of the Match in the Ranji Trophy got INR 25,000 from the sponsors. This season, the board has decided to award them a medal. But there is no confirmation whether the cash award is remain the same from last season or not.
In a circular delivered to all match referees and state associations, as read by The Indian Express, the BCCI said, ‘This is to inform you that the BCCI has dispatched ‘Player of the Match’ medals to all the host associations of the Ranji Trophy matches for both Elite and Plate groups. You are requested to hand over the medal (one per match) to the match referee on his/her arrival.”
So why did the BCCI take this move to introduce medals for Player of the Match in Ranji Trophy 2024?
It is believed that the BCCI felt that the players would cherish such medals, which are tangible rewards for their performances and would work harder.
“In other sports, athletes have something to show when it comes to rewards but domestic cricketers were deprived of this. So it was decided to give medals along with prize money rewards after each game. Domestic players will have something to take back home,” a BCCI official explained.
