T20 riches vs the test of character
New Zealand cricketers Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Lockie Ferguson have recently struck gold in the Indian Premier League ( IPL), rendering their potential earnings in a single Twenty20 match to far surpass the remuneration they would receive donning the Black Caps whites.
Mitchell, in particular, emerged as the proverbial lottery winner for the Kiwis, securing a jaw- dropping 14 crore ($ 2.69 million) contract with the Chennai Super Kings. To put this astronomical figure in perspective, Mitchell is poised to earn 18 times more in a single IPL match than he would in a test representing New Zealand.
This stark contrast highlights the financial conundrum faced by cricketers torn between financial gain and loyalty to the traditional roots of the sport. This financial frenzy, while a testament to the players’ market value, exacerbates the challenges faced by national bodies in retaining their cricketing stars for the longer and more cerebral tests. This shift in the cricketing landscape has repercussions not only for New Zealand Cricket but for national bodies worldwide grappling with the challenge of retaining their marquee players in the traditional, timehonoured version of the sport.
The meteoric rise of T20, with its adrenaline- pumping, fast- paced action, has eclipsed the charm of One Day Internationals ( ODIs) and the revered test matches. The allure of T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, has become an irresistible force, pulling cricketers away from the lengthier, mentally demanding format.
In the case of Mitchell, Ravindra and Ferguson, their IPL contracts promise financial rewards that dwarf their test match earnings. The figures are staggering — Mitchell is set to pocket $ 40,149 every 24 hours during the IPL season alone.
The irony is not lost when we consider that the IPL, an Indian extravaganza, has become the most dominant event in the cricketing calendar, surpassing even the allure of international matches. The power dynamic has shifted, with T20 leagues becoming the pulse of cricket, and the IPL standing tall as the unrivalled colossus in this landscape.
As we laud Mitchell’s excitement to join the “wonderful franchise” of the Chennai Super Kings and the camaraderie with fellow Kiwis and cricket legends, the lament for the diminishing significance of test cricket reverberates. Mitchell’s stellar performances across all formats, notably in the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, showcase the versatility of these players, making them prized possessions for T20 franchises.
As Mitchell, Ravindra and Ferguson gear up for their IPL exploits, the troubling question remains: how can cricket authorities globally reconcile the financial allure of T20 leagues with the sanctity and historical significance of test cricket? The cricketing world finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the delicate balance between financial prosperity and the timeless spirit of the gentleman’s game.