The Ranji Trophy and the County Championship are two of the largest and most famous red-ball tournaments in cricket.

The Ranji Trophy’s first edition ran from November 4, 1934 to March 12, 1935. 15 teams competed in a knockout system.

The teams were separated into four zones. Bombay (now Mumbai) beat Northern India by 208 runs at the Bombay Gymkhana Ground.

Meanwhile, the County Championship was founded in 1890 and is run by the England and Wales Cricket Board. This is the world’s first domestic cricket tournament. Surrey won nine of their 14 matches to become the inaugural champions.

Both events have produced several outstanding players for India and England throughout the years, bringing honours to their countries. However, which event helps players earn India call-ups?

Most Indian players that make the national team do so as a result of consistent performances in domestic cricket in India. However, some cricketers choose the County route to improve their game and technical skills. Good performances in England increase their prospects of playing for the Indian team, particularly in Test matches. Established Indian Test players who do not compete in the Indian Premier League (IPL) also use the opportunity to play county cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara is a prime example of an Indian cricketer developing his craft on England’s county circuit while also performing well for the national team in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. Sai Sudharsan, who recently received his first Test squad call-up, played for Surrey in County cricket and fared pretty well.

Many Indian fast bowlers, like Jaydev Unadkat and Arshdeep Singh, have played county cricket in India in recent years.

The Ranji Trophy is the premier venue for Indian cricketers to demonstrate their abilities and build a claim for a berth in the national squad. However, experience playing county cricket is an added benefit that can help them develop their talents, particularly in foreign settings.