Is IPL really the best way to gauge the form of an individual?

Over the past 6 years we have witnessed a sudden change in the method of Indian team selection. The performance of an individual is now being looked upon as the basis of their selection into the Indian team, which in earlier days were made on the basis of the Ranji tournaments or other domestic tournaments.

Now the biggest question here remains, “Is IPL seriously the best way to rank a player’s form and fitness?”

The answer, according to me, can never be an affirmative. IPL is not enough to measure a player’s form and fitness. Over the past 6 years, we have seen many players burst into the Indian Team through their charismatic performances in IPL and then fail to perform where it matters the most. They are unable to bear the pressure of the International arena.

Whether it be the last 3 editions of the T-20 World Cup or the Test or One-day series, the players who have been picked in the team on the basis of IPL have more often than not failed to perform.

Once again the selectors have taken IPL as the basis for selecting Indian team that will be going to England for the all important Champions Trophy. Many of the players have been dropped just because they were unable to perform in the all-important IPL (sarcasm intended).

Here are some whose absence from the team could prove fatal for the team-

Yuvraj Singh – The most shocking decision decision taken by the BCCI was dropping Yuvi from the national side. Why was he dropped? Just because his performance in IPL was below par? Oh! come on Mr. Selector, every person walking on the street who knows even the slightest bit about cricket knows that Yuvi’s performance has never been at par with his capability. Yuvi has always failed in the IPL, in all of the 5 editions he has played. But this has never had any impact in his form while playing for India. While playing for the country, he becomes a different Yuvi all-together. His absence in England will not only be missed while batting but also during bowling.

Manoj Tiwary - Another class player who missed out because of his inability to perform in IPL. This lad always has shown his talent whenever given a break into the national side. His dynamic fielding and sensible batting could have made the Indian team much more stable.

Ajinkya Rahane - Yet another player with loads of talent who has missed out. Rahane was overlooked for Vijay, whose performance in no way has been at par in the on-going IPL. He could have added much more aggression to the Indian top order batting line-up. And also his dynamic fielding could have lifted the team’s spirit.

Here are some who got a break once again in the team due their performance in the all-important IPL-

Rohit Sharma - Well, no surprises here. He has been a regular in the team for more than two years now, no matter how he performs. Well the reason could be either of the two: The player is very talented or he becomes a master in IPL. Now the question is, where has his hidden talent been for last the two years or so, apart from that seen in the IPL’s? Now, there can only be two answers for his selection: Either we assume he is a talented player (like we assume equations in Maths) or he should be allowed to play for India in a Mumbai Indians jersey.

Irfan Pathan - Surprise! Surprise! No one thought he would be able to get a break in the Indian team, but he got it because he played exceptionally well in the super-over for Delhi and has always bowled exceptionally well in the start overs. Yusuf Pathan should have also been selected for the Indian team, as he is a regular in the playing XI for KKR.

Murali Vijay - Every time after the IPL ends, we see Vijay in the team. But this time, he isn’t even performing for them and even CSK has dropped him from the playing XI. But still he is in the team for Gambhir, who has been in top form this season of IPL. This will only weaken the opening batting order, because we will be playing in England, not Chennai.

Only time can justify these moves. Because in the past five years, we have seen India lose every series that they have played after the closure of IPL. Hope something different happens this time around. Let’s hope these youngsters do something extra-ordinary this time and turn the table around, and win the last edition of the Champions Trophy in England.