India’s all-format captain, Rohit Sharma, recently addressed the ongoing debate regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its impact on the Ranji Trophy’s value in domestic cricket. Many cricket experts have noted that the global popularity of the IPL has led some cricketers to prioritize it over domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
However, Sharma emphasized that domestic cricket remains crucial for selection in longer formats of the game. He highlighted that these tournaments allow cricketers to showcase their skills and regain form.
“We want to make sure that it stays competitive” – Rohit Sharma
In a post-match conference after the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Sharma underscored the importance of promoting domestic cricket and ensuring available players participate in the Ranji Trophy.
“That’s always been our goal – to make sure that guys who are available go and play Ranji Trophy. Our domestic cricket is the backbone of our international cricket. A lot of the guys who are now representing the country have come up playing domestic cricket, so our domestic cricket is crucial for everyone. We want to make sure that it stays competitive,” Sharma stated.
He acknowledged the significance of the IPL but clarified that performance in domestic cricket is a key criterion for international team selection.
“We get players from our domestic circuit, not so much from the IPL. When you choose players for Test and ODI cricket, a lot of discussion happens on who is doing well in Ranji Trophy, one-day format, Syed Mushtaq Ali, and stuff like that. IPL is, of course, one format where the challenges are different. It’s a competition of both. IPL is also our cricket – it’s the Indian Premier League. At the end of the day, whoever does well in all of these tournaments eventually will get picked up,” he added.
The debate over the IPL’s benefits and its impact on Indian cricket continues, with veteran players expressing concerns over its dominance.
