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