All-format players

“Only a couple of batsmen like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are all-format players. It is not easy for other players to change gears for all the three formats. Some batsmen’s temperament is ideal for shorter formats. They are strokemakers who love to play shots. For each format you have specialists now,” points out former India pacer Karsan Ghavri, who coached Saurashtra to the last Ranji title, in 2019-20.

IPL is a massive platform, aired on multiple channels by the broadcaster with the game’s biggest experts as commentators. When someone like Brian Lara talks about a player, everyone sits up and takes notice. From R Ashwin to T Natarajan and Washington Sundar last season, players have used it as the launch pad for international cricket. Even David Warner used IPL as the springboard to international stardom.

Abhimanyu though is yet to play IPL. He went unsold in the last auction.

Arzan told bcci.tv how redball cricket has helped him grow. “The grind in domestic cricket has helped me understand the importance of routine,” how to practice, bowl during practice, and how to focus on the process without thinking about the result. “It is important to be patient. There is no point comparing myself with anyone and wondering why someone else is selected and not me.”

Though IPL pushes players to adapt, especially to the demand it makes on power-hitting and smart bowling, the roles are unique in the longer format too. Arzan points to the advise from Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel. “He used to tell me “you must know your role with the ball,” be it coming in as third pacer or taking the new ball. He always highlighted the importance of planning and told us to believe in ourselves while executing plans.”

Pandit knows such keen students are not easy to find.

“There have been instances when we give a pep talk to players and they come back saying “kya fayda hai sir, IPL mein karenge yah one-day mein karenge, they will only get a chance (what’s the use, players who do well in one-day or IPL only will get a chance)”. There was a situation when players who did well in T20 cricket got selected even for Tests. That was a little disappointing for other players,” says Pandit. “I remember when I was in Vidarbha players like (skipper) Faiz Fazal (8,404 runs, 125 FC games) and off-spinner Akshay Wakhare (279 wickets, 83 FC games) were doing well, but felt the performances were not being considered.

“The selection committee giving importance to players not involved in IPL will act as motivation. (It will help) coaches to motivate players.

Pandit adds: “I have seen some players, if they are not picked for the shorter version they will ask “Sir, why was I not picked?” If they are not in the Ranji squad, they are not bothered.

“Every player doesn’t get the opportunity to play IPL, get that kind of exposure. So, selecting players on the basis of Ranji is important.”

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