The IPL is the Biggest League in the World - Virender Sehwag

Former India opener has called the Indian Premier League the biggest cricket league in the world as well as the ‘favourite’ of every player.

Began in 2008, the league has grown from strength to strength with every passing year regarding popularity, viewership and money. The first ten seasons of the league have been an enormous success and the upcoming eleventh season has been tipped to be even bigger and better with almost all the major players from around the world throwing in their hats in the auction ring.

The much-anticipated auction, which is set to be the biggest one since the inaugural season, will see a total of 1122 players going under the hammer in the event set to be held on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore. Some big overseas names who will be going under the hammer are Joe Root, Mitchell Starc, Chris Gayle, Ben Stokes, Chris Lynn, Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins, Dwayne Bravo, Carlos Brathwaite, Evin Lewis and Jason Holder.

“The IPL is the biggest league in the world and one of the favourites (among various leagues) in the world, because a single player, who is playing cricket, anywhere in the world, wants to play in the IPL,” Sehwag told PTI.

“So that shows that the credibility and publicity of the IPL is so big that even an uncapped player, who is a player of some other country, wants to play in the IPL,” he added.

Sehwag, who represented Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, further said almost all cricket-playing nations find representation in the IPL which is not the case with other T20 leagues.

“The IPL is the biggest because all nations’ players are playing in the IPL, which you would not find in any other (cricket) league such as Big Bash, CPL or BPL, where Indian players are not there.

“That’s why those leagues are not as big. Only in the IPL all world class players are playing, and that is why IPL is the best in the world,” he noted.

The batting legend went on to speak on the role of IPL in unearthing talented cricketers. The 39-year old cited the examples of all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan, fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australian David Warner and Glenn Maxwell to back his view.

“I think what the IPL did to the Indian cricket is that it gave unknown players to the Indian cricket team. If they play for their first class team, they will take at least five to six years to come and play for India. But through the IPL, those players, who have talent and who did well – they just did well in one season, and next year they were part of team India, that is what IPL did,” Sehwag said.

“Ravindra Jadeja is one of them and so is Yusuf Pathan. Recently Deepak Hooda, fast bowlers (Mohammed) Siraj and (Basil) Thampi – they got picked (in the Indian squad) because of IPL performance, he added. “The IPL is giving unknown players to the Indian cricket team, Indian cricket fans and the same thing happened with other countries.

“If you look at David Warner, he played IPL first, and then he played for Australia, similarly Maxwell. It is a great platform for players to showcase their talent,” said Sehwag to back his views.

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