‘Ha tabhi India har baar haarti hai’ – Fans react as Ravi Shastri credits IPL for growth of Indian Cricket

Former India Head Coach Ravi Shastri hit back at critics who blamed the Indian Premier League (IPL) after India lost the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final against Australia on June 11. The former cricketer gave credit to the cash-rich league for providing a platform for so many talented cricketers to showcase their skills.

After India lost the WTC final, many people criticised IPL stating that players and the board give more priority rather than preparing for international commitments. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting also suspected that Indian players might have been tired after playing for two months in IPL 2023. Notably, the WTC final took place just a few days after the completion of IPL 2023.

Shastri believes that the Indian team had enough time to prepare for a big final against the Aussies with one week between IPL and WTC final. Meanwhile, experts also argue that the Australian player arrived early in England, which helped them acclimatise to the conditions better. However, Shastri rubbished those claims adding that the Indian side simply had to adjust to the playing conditions.

 I do not think the IPL is one bit of a disturbance: Ravi Shastri

“From what I believe, Australia landed in England on the 30th, played golf on the 31st, then had 3-4 days of practice and played the WTC final. That’s it. So all this talk of reaching early and acclimatizing is b***t. It’s more about understanding what the conditions demand in England and practice towards it,” Shastri told The Week.

“I do not think the IPL is one bit of a disturbance. If Indian cricket is where it is today, you must thank the IPL. I know people will not like it, but I say it from the heart. You must thank the IPL. It has produced so many cricketers who have moved on to being top-class Test cricketers. From Hardik [Pandya] to Jasprit [Bumrah] to Rishabh [Pant]. So many young players like [Yashasvi] Jaiswal came through the IPL. And then people start looking at what they have done in First-Class cricket, rather than the other way around. It is a massive stage. It is the golden goose. So, never point fingers at that goose. See how we can get more eggs. How it can be used in the best possible way to do exactly what you are saying.,” he further added.

IPL is the golden goose that guarantees disproportionate net worths of average players and commentators. It will has not helped win even a T20 ICC trophy which even Windies and Lanka won. Shastri is over the top on this though IPL gave Bumrah.

— Satnam Gill (@satlegspinner) June 24, 2023

IPL is just money making business nothing else. If we keep aside 2011 world cup and champions trophy we haven't won't any thing significant since ipl has started. If anything ipl has changed is the team bonding of team India nothing else.

— zenitsu (@Dude24KK) June 24, 2023

Where is Indian cricket

' No icc trophies since 2013*
* Lost 2 WTC finals*
* always under pressure in big matches*
* Sub standard performance in overseas tests barring a few exceptions*

Just because Ravi shastri speaks good english, doesn't make him right.

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) June 24, 2023

So quickly he changed his statements.. During WTC finals, he said India played badly due to IPL. Don't know which right is always right for him. In my opinion, IPL is bad and it has already showed its side effects. pic.twitter.com/VyMtPQ4zrg

— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) June 24, 2023

How does this logic work when you are losing WTC trophy twice?! What exactly are players being produced for if not winning most prestigious title?! On priority list of players or management if WTC is not right up there but finishing IPL season then there's no point of thus league

— vivo (@vivo_divo) June 24, 2023

Issue is IPL performance is the only consideration, no distinction between test vs ODI vs T20 cricket skills, players don’t consider international success critical – look at how flat they look in knockouts, IPL lobbies are influencing selections

— Debashish Mohapatra (@Debashi77922889) June 25, 2023

Exactly my thoughts too. That's why Ravi bhai rocks – never beats around the bush. I unfortunately was one of those who thought Dravid – Sharma combo will take Indian cricket higher. pic.twitter.com/bqrujAvu1O

— Aanand Vasu (आनंद वासु, ஆனந்த் வாசு) (@aanandvasu) June 24, 2023

4 overs of IPL and 40 overs in a day of Test.
Ya it’s the same bro.
Wild shots in IPL to technically sound batting in test, Haan Ravi bhai sab same hi hai

— AB🐾. 🚩🇮🇳 (@abhi_bol) June 24, 2023

Totally disagreed if ipl not there our team definitely better than currently. Bcz without ipl we stick on one player while with the ipl we get more options and try to change players every single series failures.

— crick8🏏🇮🇳 (@cric8ter) June 24, 2023

That's correct! IPL has indeed introduced us to a wide array of players with varied competencies. It's up to the BCCI & the selectors to strategize on how & when to tap into this rich & diverse pool of talent.

— Snehal Manjrekar (@snehalmanjrekar) June 25, 2023