There Is Nothing Wrong With That- Wasim Jaffer On Players Getting A National Call-up Via IPL Performances

Wasim Jaffer, former Indian opener and the current batting coach of Kings XI Punjab, feels there is nothing wrong if players are selected to the Indian Cricket Team on the back of their performances in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The IPL, apart from the financial riches that it provides, it also tends to give an opportunity to youngsters to rub their shoulders with and against the best in the world, and it is precisely the reason behind Jaffer’s thought-process that there is nothing wrong in players getting a national call-up courtesy their performances in the IPL.

Citing examples of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, both of whom shot into reckoning following their performances for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, Wasim Jaffer said-

“I think there is nothing wrong with that. Probably because it is such a big stage for the younger players to get themselves noticed, because you are playing with the best and against the best and if you show your temperament and if you show your skill, have few good matches then suddenly you get noticed.” Wasim Jaffer said on SportsTiger show ‘Off the Field’.

“Players like Bumrah, Hardik Pandya to name a few, if they had not played IPL I am sure we wouldn’t have noticed them. That is the beauty of IPL that it gives the youngsters a platform to perform.” he added.

‘There is nothing wrong if players want to play in the IPL’- Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer was, however, quick to point that a player should not be picked into the Test team on the basis of his IPL performance as red-ball cricket requires a totally different skillset and temperament.

“But to pick a player in Test cricket because of his performances in the IPL, that is something which is wrong. I think if he performs well in the IPL, maybe we can look at him in the white-ball format. But red-ball cricket is totally different skillset-wise and temperament-wise.” Jaffer added.

Wasim Jaffer also iterated that he is totally fine with players wanting to play in the IPL as it only gives monetary returns but also instant recognition, which is not the case with Ranji Trophy.

”So I feel there is nothing wrong if players want to play in the IPL, because first of all it gives you the monetary benefit and it gives you the stage to perform. If you have few good games, you can go to the next level sstraight away Whereas if you have 1000 runs in Ranji Trophy, there are hardly any people watching.” he added.

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