Proved: IPL has been detrimental to Indian cricket

Tags: India

Published on: Aug 21, 2014

At the press conference, following the debacle at The Oval, Indian skipper MS Dhoni was asked if Indian cricketers should play county cricket instead of the IPL to improve their performances in England.

At the press conference, following the debacle at The Oval, Indian skipper MS Dhoni was asked if Indian cricketers should play county cricket instead of the IPL to improve their performances in England. His instant reaction was, ask the BCCI. The manner of reply was rude, but it was still a decent answer. What followed the statement was shocking. Dhoni appended the answer with -- don't be jealous of the IPL. All the journos, including the Indian contingent, were stunned. Here was a presser called to discuss India's catastrophic showing. The IPL question was bound to come up. And Dhoni was expected to give an honest answer at least this time. He shirked the controversial topic again.


There is a reason why the IPL has become a bone of contention in Indian cricket, and why so many former cricket experts, except those from India, have warned the Indian team that they are heading on the path of disaster. Former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has actually referred to the IPL as a monster that has been decaying Indian cricket. Unfortunately, the BCCI has been paying little attention to the same. When former India coach Gary Kirsten admitted that the IPL was hurting India, the cricket board censured him. No wonder present coach Duncan Fletcher is happy keeping his mouth shut.


Even since the IPL kicked off in 2008, India have won only one Test against a top-ranking Test side away from home. That was the famous Test against South Africa at Durban in 2010. Honestly though, that win was down to a super batting effort by VVS Laxman on a surface that most batsmen from both sides suffered. The other win came against the lowly West Indies a year later. Since, they have been thrashed 4-0 in England, by the same margin in Australia. Their visit to South Africa late last year added to Dhoni's list of away defeats. Even New Zealand were successful in getting the better of them. And now, this English disaster.


Not only abroad, even at home, Dhoni has failed to inspire India in recent times. Under him, India embarrassing lost to England 2-1 a couple of years back. In the pre-IPL era as well India had struggled away from home. But, their record was anytime much superior. India won a Test series after 21 years in England in 2007. They also drew a four-match series in Australia in 2003-04. In 2006, they won their first ever Test match in South Africa, at Johannesburg, even though they eventually went on to lose the series. Even at home, India were convincing for most of that period, before IPl struck.


Ever since the advent of the IPL, a number of successful players who shone in the pre-2008 era have lost their permanent places in the side. Big names like Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are no longer certainties in the Indian squad. Only Zaheer Khan has lost out due to age related issues. Sehwag, Gambhir and Harbhajan were still on the right side of 30s when their career began sliding. They couldn't arrest their slide in international cricket, but have continued tasting success in IPl, and similar events like the CLT20. In such a situation, other countries wouldn't be jealous of IPL. They would be pleased that the 'monster' is destroying Indian cricket.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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