We Pick Players From IPL Only For T20I Format - MSK Prasad

The emergence of Indian Premier League has been the major positive aspect for Indian Cricket to achieve best results in the International cricket. Few players took the opportunity with both hands to get noticed by the selectors and then get the nod to represent the Indian National Cricket Team at the highest level irrespective of the formats. The major names to come from that were Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

The duo has started their career with Mumbai Indians and went on to bring laurels for the country across the formats. They have become the major contributors for the team and also bagged the central contracts. Now, they became the regulars for the team in every format of the game.

Performance matters – MSK Prasad

The major reason behind their career has been the exposure, which they got in IPL. Speaking of the same, the chairman of selection panel MSK Prasad quoted that they will pick the players on basis of their performance on a consistent basis. He revealed that the selection of the player in ODI or Test format will not be based on IPL performance.

”Well, IPL is a premier Indian tournament that has the best players playing from across the world. The fierce competition that this tournament offers is phenomenal. Players performing consistently will definitely catch the eye. Having said that, we pick players from IPL only for T20 format and from there on to ODIs, if they are living up to the expected standards,” MSK Prasad quoted to Cricbuzz.

”After being picked from the IPL, it’s up to the players on how keen they are in learning the tricks of the trade that different formats of the game offer. If they learn to adapt, then they can play any format,” he added.

Adapting to formats is the key:

He explained that they consider IPL performance to give a call-up for T20I format but then their skills will decide whether the player can play the remaining two formats for the nation. And also, MSK Prasad believes that IPL is the biggest asset for Indian National Cricket Team.

”It is very similar to the days gone by where players who used to perform exceedingly well in Ranji got noticed by the selectors, and when they were thrown into the other formats, they used to excel too. Once noticed and recognised in one format, it’s all about how the players adapt to the demands of the other formats of the game,” MSK Prasad inferred.

Well, as MSK Prasad said, it has been great last few years for Indian Cricket. The players like Bumrah, Hardik Pandya are the products of the tournament. Apart from that, it also helped senior cricketers to fine tune their skills in the tournament, where all the world-class players take part.