"Which fool would value playing IPL over playing for the country?" : Ravi Shastri

[MenInG]

The Indian players didn't get any rest before the start of the T20 World Cup 2021. The 2nd phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 ended on October 15, just 2 days before the start of the ICC event. The Men in Blue did play their first fixture of the tournament on October 24 but they had to take part in 2 warm-up matches before the international fixtures.

Hence, they didn't really get any break period. The majority of players were in the bio-bubble since June. Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri, had also spoken about the need for the rest and said that he would have liked a bigger gap between IPL and T20 WC.

"I am mentally drained but I expect that at my age. These guys are physically and mentally drained, six months in a bubble and we would have ideally liked a bigger gap between the IPL and the World Cup," Shastri told Star Sports before the tie against Nambia.

"It's when the big games come and when the pressure hits you - you are not that switched on as you should be. And it's not an excuse. We take defeat because we are not scared of losing. Because in trying to win, you will lose a game. Here we didn't try to win because that X-factor was missing," he added.

But Shastri, who is likely to make his comeback in the commentary box, has said none of the players prioritised playing IPL over international cricket. Responding to the recent criticism over players picking IPL ahead of international cricket, Shastri has told India Today: "Absolutely. No question about it, otherwise you can't have these kinds of performances over the last 5 years. If your mind is not there when playing for the country... which fool would value that (playing for the franchise) over playing for the country."

"They are playing for India, you have got that badge on your chest, watched by billions around the world. You are lucky to be one of the 11 in a country of 1.4 billion people representing your country. So that's all far-fetched, whoever says all that I have no time," he added.

None of the Indian players in the T20 WC squad prioritised IPL. In fact, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma took a rest for one match after he returned from the UK.

Team India didn't have a memorable run in the ICC event and crashed out from the league stage after managing 3 wins from 5 matches. The tournament marked an end to Shastri's stint as Team India's head coach.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...i-shastri-responds-to-recent-criticism/831438

 

[MenInG]

Some of our IPL admirers should read the title.

 

[sam_ahm]

AB De Villiers?

 

[MP2011]

Quite a few of those 'fools' are in Indian cricket setup too. Or else how can any Indian cricketer give up international cricket and instead play IPL?

Bumrah is a serial offender in this regard, as is Kohli.

 

[sweep_shot]

Anyone who prefers domestic leagues over national duty shouldn't be selected for international games. Let them play in IPL, BBL etc.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Honestly, I don’t mind. Let’s hope they prolong the IPL to 6 months with a 1 week rest ahead of a major ICC tournament.

 

[street cricketer]

Honestly, I don’t mind. Let’s hope they prolong the IPL to 6 months with a 1 week rest ahead of a major ICC tournament.

The tragic thing is, the BCCI wouldn't even bother even if it's very obvious that the IPL drains the Indian players and affects their performance in ICC events because they don't really care if India win or loses as long as the dollars increase exponentially every year.

I've lost count of how many times the Indian team has turned up for a major overseas test series with zero acclimatisation just days after finishing the IPL.

 

[Rana]

The New Zealand and South African players have proven to be fools in the recent past

Shakib Al Hassan has proven to be a fool as well according to this statement

The West Indies do not have any control of their players whatsoever.

 

[Rana]

Glen Maxwell will miss the Pakistan tour

But he will not miss next year’s IPL

 

[Rajdeep]

Some of our IPL admirers should read the title.

Its the IPL haters who should take a note. They always claim that players prefer IPL more and hence not winning any ICC trophy.

Actually Shastri is saying everything that IPL admirers been saying for years that players dont prefer IPL more than country. That dosent mean IPL is meaningless or should get away with though which is the ultimate dream for some. Its the best form of T20 cricket but playing for your country is top most priority.

 

[pillionrider]

A lot of us here are crazy about the game and would like to believe that what Shastri says is true. For many years, IPL>international cricket seemed to be a view held only by some noob fans for whom the experience of the stadiums and the glitz mattered more. Most of the time, we were condescending and felt we could ignore them and their limited understanding of the game.

Then you started seeing players like Hardik Pandya who so obviously doesn't seem to care about playing for India as much as he does playing franchise cricket. But before all this, something we turned a blind eye to, was our biggest players seemingly more tense during an IPL game than in national colours

Nowadays the reality is right on front of those who live in cities. The only time I see kids playing cricket is during the IPL. I haven't seen a single local game going on during this WC. The only hope for cricket seems to be rural and small-town India, but even they could be motivated by the prospect of snagging a life-changing IPL contract.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

This won't go down well with our IPL lovers. Basically he is saying that International cricket > IPL. Even a match between Scotland and Afghanistan had more weightage than an IPL final played recently.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Quite a few of those 'fools' are in Indian cricket setup too. Or else how can any Indian cricketer give up international cricket and instead play IPL?

Bumrah is a serial offender in this regard, as is Kohli.

Bumrah is a serial choker in ICC tournaments also.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Platitudes.

Will any Indian player miss a massive payday by sitting out IPL because they need a rest before World T20?

Why do they choose to sit out of international games (such as against NZ) but won't miss a game of IPL?

True for most international players too. It's hard when you have families and dreams and ambitions and limited time to earn for a lifetime.

 

[gazza619]

Glen Maxwell will miss the Pakistan tour

But he will not miss next year’s IPL

I guess he is a fool then

 

[street cricketer]

Platitudes.

Will any Indian player miss a massive payday by sitting out IPL because they need a rest before World T20?

Why do they choose to sit out of international games (such as against NZ) but won't miss a game of IPL?

True for most international players too. It's hard when you have families and dreams and ambitions and limited time to earn for a lifetime.

In all honesty, all the posters who are criticising the IPL in this thread would do the same what international players do if they were offered similar amounts of money.

It's easy to talk about patriotism and nationalism sitting on the sofa when you have nothing at stake.

 

[JaDed]

In all honesty, all the posters who are criticising the IPL in this thread would do the same what international players do if they were offered similar amounts of money.

It's easy to talk about patriotism and nationalism sitting on the sofa when you have nothing at stake.

We already do the same, many of us left the country , in India most of us are not working for govn but private sector.

It’s stupid to criticize players for the IPL scheduling, thats upto BCCI.

 

[Technics 1210]

Which fool? The fool under BCCI payroll.

 

[IMMY69]

In all honesty, all the posters who are criticising the IPL in this thread would do the same what international players do if they were offered similar amounts of money.

It's easy to talk about patriotism and nationalism sitting on the sofa when you have nothing at stake.

I have no issues with players getting paid big money and wanting to play the IPL.
I've said this before, I'd run around Mumbai naked if I was offered a million dollars.

However, what I don't agree with is that the IPL is bigger then a world tournament, and I don't mean financially. Some posters here were saying that the IPL is more important and more exiting but can they put their hands on their hearts and say they feel the same way watching Mumbai Indians play as they do when India plays? Do they feel the victory snd the losses in the same way?

 

[Saj]

Isn't the 'fool' he is referring to, Sunil Gavaskar?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Why did they give fake reasons to skip the 5th test. They had to rest before IPL. Used COVID as an excuse. They do prioritize IPL. The funny thing is vast majority of the guys in the squad failed badly in the IPL 2nd round of the season. Only KL Rahul did okay. Nortje was good. Rest failed badly. Guys who skipped or not played often were fresh. Butler bailed out. Warner was even dropped by SRH shockingly.

 

[leonidas_alexandar]

I do not know if he is being serious. Are you kidding me? There's quite a lot of players and boards (BCCI) - which do seem to prefer IPL over international cricket.

Ravi Shastri is the bigger fool here for making such a self-unaware statement.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I do not know if he is being serious. Are you kidding me? There's quite a lot of players and boards (BCCI) - which do seem to prefer IPL over international cricket.

Ravi Shastri is the bigger fool here for making such a self-unaware statement.

Correct. They are accumulating money for the next 10 generations of their family with IPL. Why would they care about this? Varun chakravarathy barely played any matches for India. May never play as well in the future. He is already worth 2 million dollar.

 

[MP2011]

Correct. They are accumulating money for the next 10 generations of their family with IPL. Why would they care about this? Varun chakravarathy barely played any matches for India. May never play as well in the future. He is already worth 2 million dollar.

Anyone who is saying that they need to earn for their post-retirement future too is living in fool's paradise, just like Shastri.

For example, how much more money do Kohli & Dhoni need for them to survive during say, the next 40 years at least? I know it's a very subjective call but still by all accounts they've earned enough.

And it's not that they're getting paid peanuts for playing international cricket.

 

[MP2011]

Bumrah is a serial choker in ICC tournaments also.

As is Kohli except for T20 WCs.

You get the drift.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Bumrah is a serial choker in ICC tournaments also.

Do you know how many wickets he took in Wc 19?

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Bumrah is a serial choker in ICC tournaments also.

Oh you meant knockouts.

Yes yes, in knockouts he is a choker just Like Tendulkar

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

In all honesty, all the posters who are criticising the IPL in this thread would do the same what international players do if they were offered similar amounts of money.

It's easy to talk about patriotism and nationalism sitting on the sofa when you have nothing at stake.

Completely agree. Most of us will take higher paying financial roles selling burgers and pizza over lower paying government roles entailing healthcare and education even if the latter are far more meaningful.

Financials are a reality of life. And sportsmen's life on the field is anyway limited.

However, I will say this. Playing for national team enhances chances of higher financial returns in leagues for sure. So it is a good idea to balance both while you can. And be properly ready for big internationals. It enhances profile. Also appeal.

 

[U$ofA]

I have no issues with players getting paid big money and wanting to play the IPL.
I've said this before, I'd run around Mumbai naked if I was offered a million dollars.

However, what I don't agree with is that the IPL is bigger then a world tournament, and I don't mean financially. Some posters here were saying that the IPL is more important and more exiting but can they put their hands on their hearts and say they feel the same way watching Mumbai Indians play as they do when India plays? Do they feel the victory snd the losses in the same way?

The best way to test is to schedule a World Cup the same time as the IPL. See where the fans turn up. See where the TV/streaming broadcasting money shows up. See where the advertisers show up. Of course, where the players show up.

Would be a very interesting test. I am sure the IPL will not mind. They will just schedule it as they fit. But I am going to guess the ICC will never be up for this. Would never want to do it.

I am sure such a scenario is not going to happen. But if it did, it will put to rest any speculation of pecking order of the food chain.

 

[NishanKonar]

Completely agree. Most of us will take higher paying financial roles selling burgers and pizza over lower paying government roles entailing healthcare and education even if the latter are far more meaningful.

Financials are a reality of life. And sportsmen's life on the field is anyway limited.

However, I will say this. Playing for national team enhances chances of higher financial returns in leagues for sure. So it is a good idea to balance both while you can. And be properly ready for big internationals. It enhances profile. Also appeal.

This is so true

Even Michael Holding chose WSC over national glory when he had to make the choice. Very easy to lecture others when you don't have any stake. Pretty sure Holding or Shastri wud prioritize IPL if they were 25 years old today

By the way Ravi Shastri himself is joining IPL very soon