Challenger Trophy: An overview

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:

HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS:

LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS:

# batted second

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL INNINGS:

Note: A total of 21 centuries have been scored in Challenger Trophy

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH:

Note: A total of 14 four-wicket hauls have been recorded in Challenger Trophy