(BCCI Photo)
The success of the Indian Premier League has not only motivated cricket boards globally to create their own similar tournaments but has also prompted various state associations affiliated with the BCCI to adopt the model and establish their own T20 leagues.
The latest tournament to join this trend is the Delhi Premier League, which started last weekend. Performers in these leagues have attracted the interest of IPL teams, with some investing heavily in their potential at auctions.
A notable case is the Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful teams in IPL history, who spent an astonishing Rs 8.4 crore on Sameer Rizvi, renowned for his record-breaking century in the UP T20 League.
Additionally, IPL franchises have also made significant investments in players who have gained recognition through their junior-level performances.
However, Sunil Gavaskar has challenged the logic behind this strategy, pointing out that the standard of cricket in U-19 or state T20 leagues is significantly lower compared to even domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, let alone the IPL or international cricket.
“We have already seen how most under-19 players struggle to get their footing at the first-class level as the standard of the opposition is way higher than in the junior tournaments,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the mid-day.
He also commented that spending crores on players who stand out in state premier leagues is a “sheer waste of money.”
“Similarly, those who shine in the State T20 leagues don’t necessarily replicate their performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the IPL as the standards are much higher there. The franchises are finding out that forking crores for players shining in the State Premier leagues is not a great idea and a sheer waste of money,” he wrote.
The Indian domestic season kicks off with the Duleep Trophy, a red-ball competition, and Gavaskar believes that these tournaments provide selectors with valuable insight into which players are prepared to advance to the next level.
“The Indian cricket season begins with the Duleep Trophy starting in a couple of weeks’ time and it’s good to see that this time around all the internationals will be taking part in it. That is the one sure way the selectors will be able to see if the bowlers and batters are good enough to take the next step to the international level,” he wrote.
