Young Wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat Skips Ranji Practice, Joins IPL Camp

Former cricketers have repeatedly highlighted the importance of domestic cricket as the cornerstone for a player’s growth. However, young Indian wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat seems to hold IPL commitments in higher regard than the Ranji Trophy. Rawat missed the Ranji practice sessions and directly reported to the Gujarat Titans’ IPL camp.

Anuj Rawat, 25, serves as the wicketkeeper for the Delhi Ranji team. He was recently picked up by Gujarat Titans in the IPL mega auction. With the IPL set to kick off in late March, teams have already started their training camps. Gujarat Titans initiated their camp in Surat, where Rawat was seen participating, opting out of Delhi’s Ranji matches.

A similar controversy arose earlier with India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, who had left midway through the South Africa tour citing rest, then traveled to Dubai, and later joined an IPL camp without participating in any domestic tournaments. The BCCI had temporarily sidelined Kishan following the incident. Now, Anuj Rawat appears to be taking a similar approach.

Responding to the situation, Ashok Sharma, Secretary of the Delhi Cricket Association, stated that he had not been informed of Anuj Rawat’s absence from Ranji Trophy practice. Sharma stressed that players must secure prior approval before skipping domestic matches for IPL-related activities. He further remarked that he was unaware of who permitted Rawat to join the IPL camp without informing the association.