‘These domestic league are just..’ – Star India bowler says Indian T20 League ‘not an ideal parameter’ for players’ performance

Published on January 25, 2023

The Indian T20 League, according to veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, has produced a large number of talented individuals for team India. The remarks were made in response to a colleague’s question on his YouTube channel on whether India can field many teams given the wealth of talent they possess.

The 36-year-old commented that it appears like many players are pounding on the selectors’ door because of the lucrative league. He did highlight, though, that other nations, besides simply India, are in a comparable predicament, taking Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) for instance.

“India has so many talents at the moment. Because of the IPL, it looks like so many of them are doing well. But that might just be some people’s perception. If you take the BBL, there are so many people who are doing well in that tournament as well,” told Ashwin on his youtube channel.

You should watch these players and see their run in first-class cricket: Ravichandran Ashwin

“The likes of Cameron Bancroft, Jordan Silk, and Josh Phillippe have done really well. So, they can also say, ‘include him, include him’, and so and so. But that’s not the point, the veteran off-spinner added”

Ashwin elaborated more on the T20 leagues, stating that they should only be recognized in domestic competitions. He asserted that these leagues are not the best criteria to evaluate a player. The 36-year-old claimed that in addition to a cricketer’s results in these leagues, it is crucial to observe how he performs in first-class matches.

“These domestic leagues are just domestic tournaments. It will give recognition. After that, you should watch these players and see their run in first-class cricket. International cricket is an on-and-on going process. Telling that one player would have performed better than another player is just hindsight,” he said.

Ashwin has participated in Indian T20 League since the 2009 campaign. Prior to the mini-auction held last year, the Rajasthan franchise decided to keep him on board, and he will play for the team in the upcoming season.