With the IPL grabbing all the attention and becoming an instant hit in the “market”(I hate to use this word when it comes to cricket), it sure is here to say. Being a total entertainer and now with that X-factor to it, it surely deserves a place in the headlines. But I would like to look at it with a different perspective, a more traditional one you might say. As far as I can see, it is acting as a slow poison to Indian cricket. I say this because of the impact it is having on the young talent of India. Most of the players of the winning under-19 team are part of one or the other teams in the IPL. And what is happening to them –
Virat Kohli, the colts captain has just managed a single score more than 20;
Manish Pandey, who is a cut above the rest and has all the makings of a great test player is sent at number 3 in his first match of the tournament in a pressure cooker situation where he is expected to score right from the word go;
Ravindra Jadeja, a prolific all rounder slashes hard at whatever comes his way and does not get a bowl in the match;
and the rest – the likes of Saurabh Tiwary, Iqbal Abdulla, Ajitesh Argal are sitting on the bench enjoying the stardom they are getting. Instead, they should have been preparing themselves for the big picture, exploring themselves, learning various aspects of the game, buying more time for enhancement of their basic skills, strengthening their weaknesses. After all test cricket is all about discipline, determination and dedication, and it is indeed the real test of one’s talent. Go through the lives of greats like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and you will find that they had worked very hard initially, proved their mettle at the domestic circuit and then made a place for themselves in the national team.The only advantage to the young players is that they get the opportunity to share the dressing room with all time greats and have practice sessions with them, which is a huge thing. But then at this very initial level, they are being exposed to something which has
nothing to do with a batsman being technically correct, his backlift being high enough to get power in the punch, getting in line of the ball, a spinner flighting the ball in the air, the wicket keeper getting up at the right moment. Its just about getting runs and taking wickets-which ever way you do it.
So IPL being a very lucrative venture for the businessmen, established cricketers, domestic cricketers and the retired ones, it sure is hurting the young guns big time. I hope the pundits of Indian cricket realize this and do something about it.
smokin my life......its my terrain 
Hmm, a very, very thoughtful post indeed. I suppose it could only have come from someone like you who has the passion, as well as the requisite knowledge about the game and its players.
While you said this, I request you to think this way:
1. Why do most people join engineering, and not basic sciences, after studying science at +2 level?
2. Why do most artists pursue pop music, and not classical music, after being trained in the latter during the early parts of their career?
3.Why do people go for MBA after being trained in engineering or other disciplines?
I believe that a lot of these career changes take place only because of the money factor. Market demands the ‘applied’, it does not care for the ‘basics’. Hence more money in the former. Hence popularity of the former. Hence diminishing existence of / respect for the former.
It’s sad indeed to see our beloved cricket going the same way. But in today’s booming market-driven economy, I suppose little else was expected. Subtle class will take backseat, and flashy aada-patta will be in. Might not be in so much black and white, but something in that direction.
I hope it does not happen, but you and I can only hope.
I agree man. It was a pity watching Tiwary slogging at every damned delivery and getting out in a miserable fashion later on. But as Aniket said, the market factors are pretty strong.
Well said Aniket. You have made your point.
But in this scenario the situation is a little different I feel. What I was saying is that the youngsters should not be considered for such tournaments.
Here the fault is with the administrators of the game and not the youngsters. Its not that they are sacrificing their talent or passion for something else with monetary incentives in mind. And particularly at this point of time in their lives where they would want to take every opportunity which comes their way due to stiff competition, they would definitely grab the attention with both the hands. In the process, damaging their game.
So a little is the fault of the players here. They are just trying to do their best at what they are presented with.
I see your point, that the youngsters should not be asked to play in IPL, as it might cause more harm than good to their game, and consequently, to the overall game as well. I agree to it, and was only taking off from there.
People playing ‘applied’ cricket, and making money is not bad in itself, if they do not lose sight of the basics. But it’s only human that something happens in that direction.
One negative fall-out of the free market which otherwise has been doing tremendous good to so many of us.
i wont get into the entire we had one day on the dinner table…. 😀
but one thing i would definitely say is that this format of game saves a lot of Indian work-hours, which are otherwise wasted in watching day-long cricket matches…. 2nd thing… this is a format which can make cricket a truly global sport and not just limited to a bunch of colonial nations… e.g. this can be included in future olympics as well
entire debate*
“wasted” —> fuck you !!!
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