Ravi Shastri, a former head coach of India, agreed with Rahul Dravid that there was no reason for Indian players to compete in foreign competitions. Shastri stated that once the home system is established, “we should concentrate on our country rather than looking overseas.” There is a perception that Indian players are at a disadvantage to players from other countries who have access to a wider variety of playing environments because they are unable to compete in international leagues like the Big Bash League or the Hundred.
Dravid stated that some English players may have had an advantage due to their BBL experience in better assessing the semi-finals site Adelaide when questioned about this during the T20 World Cup semifinal match versus England. He noted that it is difficult for Indian players to play in international tournaments because the majority of these T20 competitions take place during India’s domestic season. Furthermore, given how well-liked Indian athletes are internationally, their participation could be harmful to local cricket.
“There is enough domestic cricket for all these players to get absorbed in the system and get an opportunity. Plus, you get these India A tours, and you get a lot of these other tours, where at one given time you might have two Indian teams playing in the future, where the opportunity will come for the other lot to go somewhere else whilst India is in another country – to go play and see what you know they can do,” Shastri said.
Shastri believed that the players had already gained enough exposure through domestic cricket, the IPL, and these tours because there had been more India A tours in recent years. “So there’s no need [to play in overseas leagues], they’re absolutely fine playing IPL cricket and focusing on domestic cricket. We need them to play domestic cricket in India as well,” he added.
The selectors rested the senior players after the World Cup in Australia, putting Hardik Pandya in charge of the Indian T20I team in New Zealand. After helping Gujarat Titans win their first match in the competition, the all-rounder assumed the role for the first time in Ireland earlier this year. The Indian team is prepared to face off against New Zealand in the opening match of a three-match T20I series on Friday in New Zealand following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
