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Challenger Trophy: An overview
Rajneesh Gupta
September 30, 2006

The Challenger Trophy provides cricket-crazy fans an opportunity to have a glimpse at the best available talent in India, as three teams -- India Seniors [India Blue], India A [India Red] and India B [India Green] - battle it out under the floodlights from Sunday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India introduced this annual day-night limited-overs in 1994-95, keeping in view India's international commitments.

For first few years the three teams were picked in order of merit, but the emphasis shifted to selecting three well-matched teams, a move that resulted in bringing in more entertainment and more closely-fought matches.

The inaugural tournament was held at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Subsequently, it was hosted by Hyderabad, Mohali (twice), Mumbai (twice), Ahmedabad (twice), Chennai and Bangalore (twice).

In 2002-03 the tournament could not be played due to the busy schedule of the Indian team.

Barring the 1998-99 event in Ahmedabad, which was totally ruined by rain, the Challenger has provided thrilling contests between India Seniors, the A and B teams. However, on most occasions the Seniors proved superior. They won the title seven out of 11 times; India A have done it thrice -- in 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2004-05. India A and B were declared joint-winners in 1998-99, at Ahmedabad, when rain forced the abandonment of most of the matches.

From 1998-99 the tournament was known as the N K P Salve Challenger Trophy

In this year's edition -- being played at Chennai -- the three teams have been given new names: India Blue (formerly known as India Seniors), India Red (formerly India A) and India Green (formerly India B). The tournament has been renamed as Challenger Series, for the N K P Salve Trophy.

Results of previous tournaments:

Season

Winners

Runners-up

Third Team

Venue

Trophy

1994-95

India Seniors

India A

India B

Kolkata

Kedia Cup

1995-96

India Seniors

India A

India B

Hyderabad

Liberty Cup

1996-97

India Seniors

India B

India A

Mohali

-

1997-98

India Seniors

India A

India B

Mumbai

-

1998-99

India A & B

-

India Seniors

Ahmedabad

NKP Salve Trophy

1999-00

India Seniors

India A

India B

Ahmedabad

NKP Salve Trophy

2000-01

India Seniors

India A

India B

Chennai

NKP Salve Trophy

2001-02

India A

India Seniors

India B

Bangalore

NKP Salve Trophy

2002-03

The tournament could not be held

 

 

2003-04

India A

India B

India Seniors

Bangalore

NKP Salve Trophy

2004-05

India A

India Senior

India B

Mumbai

NKP Salve Trophy

2005-06

India Seniors

India B

India A

Mohali

NKP Salve Trophy

HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS:

Total (Overs)

For

Vs

Venue

Season

392-6 (50)

India Sr

India B

Chennai

2000-01

362 (46.4)#

India B

India Sr

Chennai

2000-01

340-2 (50)

India B

India A

Bangalore

2003-04

338-5 (50)

India B

India Sr

Bangalore

2003-04

320-9 (50)

India Sr

India A

Ahmedabad

1999-00

314-6 (50)

India A

India B

Bangalore

2003-04

312-6 (48.1)#

India Sr

India A

Chennai

2000-01

311-6 (50)

India A

India Sr

Chennai

2000-01

LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS:

Total (Overs)

For

Vs

Venue

Season

110 (38)#

India B

India A

Hyderabad

1995-96

152-7 (50)#

India A

India Sr

Kolkata

1994-95

154 (36)

India Sr

India A

Bangalore

2001-02

166 (49.5)#

India Sr

India A

Hyderabad

1995-96

172 (50)

India B

India A

Mumbai

1997-98

# batted second

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL INNINGS:

Score

Batsman

For

Vs

Venue

Season

142

SC Ganguly

India Sr

India B

Chennai

2000-01

131

D Mongia

India B

India Sr

Bangalore

2001-02

126

S Dhawan

India Sr

India B

Mumbai

2004-05

125

V Sehwag

India Sr

India B

Bangalore

2001-02

121

D Mongia

India B

India A

Bangalore

2003-04

117*

SV Manjrekar

India A

India B

Kolkata

1994-95

Note: A total of 21 centuries have been scored in Challenger Trophy

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH:

Figures

Bowling

For

Vs

Venue

Season

6-39

SLV Raju

India A

India Sr

Hyderabad

1995-96

5-29

M Kartik

India Sr

India B

Mohali

2005-06

5-47

J Srinath

India Sr

India B

Mohali

1996-97

5-50

L Balaji

India Sr

India A

Bangalore

2003-04

5-51

KNA Padmanabhan

India B

India Sr

Mumbai

1997-98

5-57

Sarandeep Singh

India A

India B

Bangalore

2001-02

Note: A total of 14 four-wicket hauls have been recorded in Challenger Trophy


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