India, Oct. 10 -- The drama in Ranji Trophy unfolds over four days amid the frenzy that is white-ball cricket. IPL commands attention, yet Indian Test cricket cannot thrive without the premier first-class tournament.

Before the packed stands and the India cap come uneven pitches, facing the hard new ball and learning the discipline to last sessions. For the next few months, the future of Indian cricket will take shape far from the spotlight.

As the new season begins on Sunday, a familiar question is whether the first-class calendar gives its flagship competition the room to breathe.

At 15, the batter belongs to a generation for which the boundaries between formats are increasingly porous. IPL has turned Sooryavanshi into a household na...