Match awards introduced in domestic games

Man-of-the-Match awards have become the latest incentive for players in Indian domestic tournaments, after the dramatic increase in prize money and match fees over the past few years.

Starting with this year's Ranji Trophy, every senior match will have a Man-of-the-Match award, worth Rs 25,000 (US$ 560). "The award has been introduced as part of our deal with Airtel for supporting domestic cricket," Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative office of the BCCI, told Hindustan Times. The first round of the Ranji Triphy kicks off on November 1.

Bharti Airtel, India's largest telecom company, had won the corporate sponsorship rights for all international series played in India for the next three years. The Man of the Match will be decided by the match referee and the umpires.