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Playing IPL more difficult than playing for country: Muttiah Muralitharan

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Legendary Sri Lanka cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan is of the opinion that playing IPL is harder than representing your country. Murali’s comments came during an interaction with India off-spinner R Ashwin in his show ‘DRS with Ash’.

“Playing IPL difficult than playing for country,” said Muralitharan.

The former Sri Lanka off-spinner, who is the highest wicket-taker of the world in both ODIs and Tests, said the competition level in IPL is high and foreign players have to sit out irrespective of performance to maintain certain team combinations based on conditions and the opposition.

“With country, you know you will perform. You will have the confidence that you’ll get the ball, you’ll play. But in IPL, no matter how well you’ve done, you might have to sit out for the sake of team combination. So that’s part and parcel of IPL. You have to accept it and move on,” Murali added.

Murali, who represented Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala (now defunct) and Royal Challengers Bangalore in eight seasons of IPL, said there have been matches where he has had to sit out for the team combination’s sake.

“In IPL only four foreigners can play so tea composition is there. Some matches need all-rounders, some don’t. I too have sat out many matches. But I’ve never been unsatisfied. That is part of the game,” said Murali.


Murali has played in every season of IPL till 2015 but his best years were with Chennai Super Kings where he picked up 52 wickets in 46 matches under MS Dhoni’s leadership.

Murali was last seen plying his trade in the IPL for RCB in 2015.

Ashwin, on the other hand, will a start a new journey with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 which is set to begin from September 19 in the UAE. Ashwin, who was the leader of KXIP in last two seasons of IPL, will form a potent spin attack with the likes of Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Axar Patel in Delhi Capitals.

The 13th edition of IPL will start from September 19 and the final will be played on November 10. The full of schedule of IPL 2020 is yet to be announced by BCCI.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...uralitharan/story-uEPqTOS4CgwFtYaSvaecoJ.html
 
Mutthiah Muralitharan - All set to lose respect and recognition in some eyes.
 
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Two of the greatest spinners chat together. Must be some serious fun.
 
Only 4 overseas players are allowed so obviously its difficult for overseas players to compete for those 4 spots. Not exactly related to playing international or T20 league, more related to rules of selection in leagues.
 
In selection terms sure, title probably a bit misleading.

No, in playing terms as well - if you check the stats of regular IPL players, often their international T20I stats is better than IPL stats. Reason is often in T20I, teams rest their best players, particularly bowlers and second reason is that you get lots of “soft” games in T20I. In any draft system tournament- all the teams are more or less quite close, so every game will be competitive for that level, in terms of player pool; and IPL is peak of such franchise leagues.
 
No, in playing terms as well - if you check the stats of regular IPL players, often their international T20I stats is better than IPL stats.

Rishab Pant averages 36 in IPL and 20 in T20I, David Warner averages 43 in IPL and 31 in T20I etc.
 
One reason was because Murali was kinda off his prime when he came into IPL.
 
Rishab Pant averages 36 in IPL and 20 in T20I, David Warner averages 43 in IPL and 31 in T20I etc.

Exceptions are there - there are players with higher International average than FC or List A.

In any case, 14 IPL games a year gives much more tougher challenges than 14 T20Is played against several teams.
 
IPL is far better than bilateral T20 cricket and on par with World T20.
 
For a bowler, IPl is more challenging because the quality of batting in IPL is at another level.

But for a batsman, it's a lot more difficult to succeed in PSL which is visibly the best league in the world as far bowling standards are concerned. A lot of credit for this goes to Pakistani bowling pool as they have an average more raw talent and ability.
 
IPL is not more challenging than national team.

With national team, you have more pressure because you are representing country. IPL is all about quick bucks.
 
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