How has the IPL become the de-facto version for domestic cricket?
Shayamal Vallabhjee
Leadership Coaching: 20 Years of Crafting Leaders who Build Cultures of Excellence / Stanford Business School LEAD Teaching Team / Chief Performance & Sport Advisor MPG
The availability of international players for domestic games after a decade long absence. WHY is this news and how has this been allowed to happen?
For the first time in over a decade, Indian cricket superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are playing domestic cricket. While this may seem like a treat for fans and local players, it’s a stark reminder of how domestic cricket has been sidelined in the broader ecosystem of the sport. This trend, fuelled by the rise of lucrative leagues like the IPL, threatens the very foundation of Indian cricket. Here’s why this shift is problematic:
1. Domestic Cricket is the Backbone of Talent Development
Domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy are the breeding grounds for future stars. These tournaments offer a platform for young cricketers to test their skills and learn the nuances of the game. However, without the regular presence of senior players, these youngsters lose the chance to compete against the best, depriving them of the mentorship and challenge they need to grow.
In other systems like Australia’s Sheffield Shield or England’s County Cricket, top international players are expected to return and contribute when available, ensuring the domestic circuit remains strong and competitive.
2. The IPL is Not a Replacement for Domestic Cricket
While the IPL has revolutionised the sport in terms of visibility, finances, and entertainment, it’s a double-edged sword. It offers glamour and money but sidelines the importance of the longer formats and the grind of domestic cricket. The skills required for Test cricket or even ODI cricket are honed through years of playing domestic matches, not just in the high-octane, short-format IPL.
Unfortunately, the IPL has become the de facto “domestic cricket” in India, widening the gap between international cricket and the real domestic circuit. Players now prioritise franchise cricket over national and domestic duties, diluting the quality and purpose of tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
3. Widening the Gap Between International and Domestic Cricket
The absence of senior players in domestic cricket creates a massive skill gap between the two levels. Young players suddenly find themselves thrust into international cricket without the rigorous preparation that domestic competition with seasoned players offers. This is one of the reasons why many talented players struggle to transition successfully from domestic to international cricket.
Contrast this with New Zealand or England, where top players frequently play in domestic tournaments, ensuring that young talents get the experience of competing with or against seasoned pros. This keeps the domestic circuit competitive and creates a natural pathway for talent development.
4. Inspiration for Emerging Players
Having someone like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in a domestic tournament isn’t just about the competition; it’s about the inspiration. Imagine a young batter sharing the dressing room or the pitch with a modern-day great—it’s a priceless opportunity that shapes careers and builds confidence.
When top players are absent from domestic cricket, it robs emerging talents of such formative experiences. Instead, these tournaments become less competitive, less prestigious, and less appealing to the next generation of players.
5. Strengthening Cricket’s Ecosystem
Domestic cricket isn’t just a stepping stone; it’s the foundation on which the sport is built. Neglecting it weakens the entire ecosystem. International cricket relies on a robust domestic structure to supply ready, skilled players. When this structure is undermined, the pipeline of talent gets disrupted, ultimately affecting the performance of the national team.
Indian cricket needs to rethink its priorities. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must enforce policies that encourage—if not mandate—international players to actively participate in domestic tournaments whenever possible. This will:
? Bridge the gap between international and domestic cricket.
? Raise the standard of domestic competitions.
? Motivate and prepare young players to excel at higher levels.
The IPL can coexist with domestic cricket, but it should not replace it. Other cricketing nations have shown that a strong domestic system strengthens the national team, and India cannot afford to lose sight of this reality.
It’s time to restore balance, give domestic cricket its due respect, and ensure that the game grows sustainably—from the grassroots to the highest levels. Indian cricket has achieved greatness because of its strong domestic system; it’s time to protect and nurture it, not sideline it.
What are your thoughts?
Senior Executive || Transformation and Product at Wells Fargo ll Proud husband of a rockstar wife ll Dad of two funny and kind kids
1 个月They is why they play test cricket like T20 and throw away moments consistently. But the bowling impact is the opposite. Because bowlers are under so much pressure in T20s they have to innovate and the skills and resilience comes into test cricket. No wonder our bowlers are doing better. Batting in India especially is so easy. I specially with evening cricket and dew. So out top batters score a lot in conditions favorable to them and can’t even stick around for a few overs when normalcy returns.
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1 个月Hi Shayamal, you have struck the nail on it's head, BCCI needs to formulate strategy where international players have the opportunity to play domestic games, with cramped schedules breathing down their neck, it's an arduous task for international players to play domestic games , what's of paramount significance is we should be able to strike holistic balance ,create much touted harmony between domestic cricket , IPL and International games, our ranji cricket is the fertile alluvial soil which breeds, nurtures and create scintillating talents , the need of the hour is to find the correct equilibrium amongst the three formats. Shyamal also, we need to ensure quality of pitches getting dished in ranji games and other domestic games are not substandard rank turners neither they should have preposterous seam and swing. India needs to start playing International test matches on quality tracks , what I mean by quality tracks are pitches which last the litmus test of 5 days, test cricket is the barometer of excellence (only when it is built on foundations of judging one's mental fortitude and skills) , It has to last for 5 days or at least close to it,. We are so besotted with WTC cycle we have completely eschewed quality cricket.
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1 个月You are absolutely right - Domestic cricket is the foundation on which the this sport is built in india (i believe even the IPL). If we continue to ignore domestic cricket, the day is not far that even IPL value would diminish. Right now the current crop of players prioritising IPL, have come from the grinding of domestic cricket. The less we pay respect to domestic, the more damage we are doing to not only national cricket but also to IPL in longer run. IPL also needs a very very strong domestic circuit to survive.