NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
Encyclopedia
Challenger series is played with the purpose of show-casing the talent that the country has, as well as providing opportunities to younger players to make an impression. The tournament is played in October before the start of Ranji season.
From 1998-99 the tournament was known as the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, named after former Board of Control for Cricket in India president NKP Salve - the man who brought the World Cup
to the sub-continent in 1987. The tournament was not played in 2002-03
The annual tournament is played between three sides made up 36 of the best players in India. The three teams were India
Senior and India A & India
B. Team names were changed for the 2006 version of this tournament. India
Seniors became India Blue and India A and India B became India Red and India Green, respectively. India Senior have won 7 times including the 2005-06 edition.
The Challenger Series gained popularity in the 2005-06 edition as it featured the comeback of Sachin Tendulkar
from injury. He lost his wicket to 16-year-old Piyush Chawla
.
From 1998-99 the tournament was known as the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, named after former Board of Control for Cricket in India president NKP Salve - the man who brought the World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
to the sub-continent in 1987. The tournament was not played in 2002-03
The annual tournament is played between three sides made up 36 of the best players in India. The three teams were India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
Senior and India A & India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
B. Team names were changed for the 2006 version of this tournament. India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
Seniors became India Blue and India A and India B became India Red and India Green, respectively. India Senior have won 7 times including the 2005-06 edition.
The Challenger Series gained popularity in the 2005-06 edition as it featured the comeback of Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and one-day international cricket. He is the only male player to score a double century in the history of ODI cricket...
from injury. He lost his wicket to 16-year-old Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla
Piyush Pramod Chawla is an Indian cricketer who has played for the India U-19 team and the Central Zone. His Hometown is Moradabad,. He is seen as a leg-spinning allrounder in domestic cricket, but has not fired as a batsman in the One Day International format...
.
Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | India Seniors |
| 1995-96 | India Seniors |
| 1996-97 | India Seniors |
| 1997-98 | India Seniors |
| 1998-99 | India A / India B |
| 1999-00 | India Seniors |
| 2000-01 | India Seniors |
| 2001-02 | India A |
| 2002-03 | Not played |
| 2003-04 | India A |
| 2004-05 | India A |
| 2005-06 | India Seniors |
| 2006-07 | India Blue / India Red |
| 2007-08 | India Blue |
| 2008-09 | India Blue |
| 2009-10 | India Red |
| 2010-11 | India Blue |
| 2011-12 | India Red / India Green |