IPL Has Catapulted India's Journey To The No. 1 Cricketing Nation In The World - Aakash Chopra
Updated - 14 Jul 2021, 05:54 PM
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra talks about how the IPL has allowed a smooth transition of cricketers from the domestic level to the international level.
Recently, India have shown their strength in depth, and without a doubt, India’s high-quality bench-strength is the biggest in the world; England can claim similar in white-ball cricket.
Aakash Chopra gives the examples of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom sparkled in their debut international series earlier this against England.
Whether it was Axar Patel having a record-breaking debut Test series or Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishan in ODIs, or previous to that a young group conquering Australia, Aakash Chopra opines that the players’ experience of playing under pressure in front of packed crowds in the IPL helped them well in adjusting to the pressure of international cricket.
The likes of Nitish Rana, Devdutt Padikkal, Chetan Sakariya, Ruturaj Gaikwad are given their maiden India call-ups for the tour of Sri Lanka.
“The IPL has allowed first-class cricketers to play in front of packed houses. My debut Test was the first game I played in front of a crowd. Ishan Kishan has played so much IPL, that when he got a chance for India, his batting made Virat Kohli look pale in front of him,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.
“Nitish Rana has not yet made his debut but there is no pressure, he consistently goes in front of the crowd and does not feel any pressure. You can see anyone – Suryakumar Yadav who scooped his first ball for a six in international cricket. Devdutt Padikkal – the same story.”
IPL has allowed so many domestic cricketers to rub shoulders with the best in the world: Aakash Chopra
The 43-year-old commentator also underlined that the young Indian players get to play with and against the best overseas cricketers in the world; get to learn different arts of the game. He says that the IPL had quickened India’s rise to the top of the world.
India are now able to field two different squads: one for Test cricket in England, and another one for white-ball cricket in Sri Lanka.
“This storm has catapulted India’s journey to the No.1 cricketing nation in the world. The IPL has empowered you, it has encouraged you to dream, it has allowed so many domestic cricketers to rub shoulders with the best in the world.
“You get to know how to handle pressure and expectations, and you are forced to improve the quality of your cricket. So I think IPL has been absolutely phenomenal. It is a terrific vehicle to make you capable of playing for India,” the former opener stated.
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Ishan Kishan Suryakumar Yadav Team India
