The big fair named IPL

I think most of us would have learned about seasonal unemployment in class IX or class X economics. It is defined as unemployment caused by seasonal nature of the job. An example would be agriculture which is largely dependent on the climatic conditions.

As far as I can see, the IPL has been more or less similar for the players yet to make a mark on the big stage. Take for instance, P.C. Valthaty. His performance in IPL-4 made him a hero overnight. But did he survive the post IPL lull? No. Technically he was not unemployed, but there was hardly any talk about him and people soon forgot his whereabouts. This is the seasonal form of stardom IPL gives its players.

I believe the IPL has created this space where a player can be on the throne for 60 odd days, after which, he is back to his thatched hut. I don’t mean to say this is the bad or dark side of IPL, but this is something which was bound to crop up. When you have about 20-30 lesser known players playing about 15 games in a space of 2 months there is always the possibility of someone rising up to the stage and setting it on fire. Why I say this is because of the following reasons :

Indian pitches just love any batsman.
The opportunity IPL provides is huge and some players get motivated to perform out of their skins.
As said by someone “Skill with little luck works in the short run”.
A debatable factor -> in all probabilities, with such a sample (biased towards Indian players), someone new is sure to put in a noticeable performance.

I acknowledge the fact that you need a certain level of skill to shine even in T-20, but euphemistically speaking, we all know it is very different from ODIs or Test Cricket. If you put it in the form of a mathematical relationship things get clearer.

T-20<<ODI<Test Cricket

Yes, we have seen players who are doing well on the international scenes after making their beginnings from T-20. David Warner is the very first name which comes to my mind. Though he is a very attacking batsman, he has adjusted well enough to make his name figure in the Australian playing XI. If Australia, despite their strong pool of first class cricketers, can have a player like Warner, who has almost negligible experience in their XI, why doesn’t India recruit through the IPL?

Digressing a little, a great place to hone a player’s skills is county cricket. The conditions are very different from our India and the going is tough there. But how many Indian players actually get signed up by counties. It is very less when compared to the number of Australian or South African players that do. Vernon Philander, the new bowling sensation chose to skip IPL to play county cricket. He could have easily gone for making a quick buck through IPL considering he is sure to share the new ball with Steyn when South Africa play their next Test. But he chose to gain some valuable experience of the conditions in the hindsight of the upcoming South African tour of England.

Coming back to the topic, Indian selectors need to take the step of actually giving a chance to the players who perform in the IPL a chance in the immediate Ranji season. This would be an ideal stage to examine the skills of the players in more detail and a chance for the players to establish themselves. If they pass this stage only must they be given a shot at the jackpot. There are always exceptions to this, but unlike English language, how many exceptions could be there?

Realizing this nature of IPL is very crucial both for the players and the selectors. IPL is just like a huge fair where even the lesser known get a chance to show case their talents. Even if people like your talent the aura exists only as long as the fair runs. It is how you perform after the fair which will take you greater heights.

Other articles that might interest you :

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/08/the-problem-with-ipl/

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/06/exclusive-interview-with-delhi-daredevils-glenn-maxwell/