IPL 2025: Former Chief Selector Blames IPL for Players Skipping National Duty
India’s former chief selector, MSK Prasad, has raised concerns about Indian players prioritizing the IPL over their national duties, suggesting that many players focus more on the tournament than representing India in international cricket.
The IPL, according to former India chief selector MSK Prasad, has changed the priorities of young cricketers in a concerning way. He noted that many young players now seem more focused on the opportunities and fame that come with playing in the IPL, rather than aiming to represent India in international cricket, especially in the longer, red-ball format. Prasad is worried that this shift could impact the commitment and dedication needed for Indian cricket, as players seem to be prioritizing the shorter, more profitable version of the game over the traditional honor of wearing the national jersey.
In an interview, MSK Prasad has stated that:
I would like to remind you that in the last few years—maybe 14-15 years, ever since the IPL has come—slowly, there has been a switch of players’ mindsets from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. Ever since that switch has come, everybody wants to play white-ball cricket and eventually play IPL, but not for India. That is a big, alarming thing. I think a few years ago, in an under-19 World Cup camp, a questionnaire was given to the under-19 team asking what their goals were. 80 percent of them had written about the IPL, but not the Indian team.
In recent times, players have prioritized the IPL due to its lucrative contracts. However, MSK Prasad emphasized that legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly would have always placed representing India over playing in the IPL, valuing national duty above the financial rewards offered by the T20 league.
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