Occasional standout performances can swiftly propel an unfamiliar player to the periphery of the Indian team.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has effectively become a fast track to earning a spot on the Indian national team. A single standout performance in the IPL can quickly elevate an obscure player to the potential line-up of the Indian squad. However, quite a few of these players tend to decline in the following season as analysts unravel the novelty and unfamiliarity of their gameplay.
As a result, certain players, along with their families and coaches, have received unprecedented media attention. It's not surprising that a solitary display of brilliance in the IPL can bring a player within touching distance of representing India.
Regrettably, the Ranji Trophy, which is meant to serve as the national championship, has been significantly overshadowed by the white-ball tournament.
Unfair coverage
As an illustration, consider the outstanding century achieved by Akshay Wadkar, the captain of Vidarbha, in the Ranji Trophy finals. Surprisingly, neither his family members nor anyone else has been interviewed regarding this achievement. It's important to note that Wadkar also endured almost two days of wicket-keeping under the scorching sun as the Mumbai batters attempted to establish an insurmountable score in the fourth innings. To accomplish a hundred runs despite the physical and mental fatigue, while simultaneously facing the challenge of restraining the Mumbai batters, deserved far greater recognition than what was received. Similarly, Harsh Dubey, the left-handed all-rounder from Vidarbha, who took five wickets and displayed resilient batting in the second innings, received virtually no acknowledgement for his remarkable performance.
Compare this to the extensive media attention received by parents, kindergarten teachers, uncles, coaches, and sports shop owners, even if they had only a minor involvement when they are seen with an IPL performer after just one game. Suddenly, the player starts complaining about how they were mistreated by someone, without realising that they may not have deserved to be selected in the first place at that particular time.
It seems that Indian coaches are subjected to criticism more easily. If these one-time successes also expose the flaws of foreign coaches, then their opinions might be taken seriously. The foreign coaches might even walk past a domestic player from their team in the hotel lobby without recognising them, yet no one would say anything about it. It is the Indian coaches who have witnessed domestic cricket and are, therefore, well-informed about the strengths and weaknesses of the country's domestic players.
Controversial remarks
Recently, Sulakshan Kulkarni, a former Mumbai player, faced criticism for his remarks after Tamil Nadu's defeat in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Mumbai. After the match, when questioned by the media, he expressed his opinion that Tamil Nadu lost because they chose to bat first instead of fielding, contradicting the earlier decision made by the team management. Several former players and Test legends from Tamil Nadu strongly opposed this statement, disregarding the fact that it was made after the match had concluded.