Former Indian batsman Rahul Dravid feels that the Indian Premier League is a reality that the world must accept, and that a window for the Indian T20 league was necessary, so that all the best players in the world could take part.
Speaking to Jonathan Agnew on BBC’s Test Match Special during the third Test between England and South Africa at Lord’s, Dravid said, “When the top players play, people will watch the IPL. But the game’s also the loser when these stars don’t play Test cricket. There must be give and take between the two, for which a window may be needed.”
When asked about the IPL’s role in the showdown between Kevin Pietersen and the ECB, Dravid was not sure if the tournament alone was the reason for the breakdown in the English player’s relationship with his board. He however agreed that the IPL would clash with the start of the English season, adding that Test cricket needed names like Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen.
Dravid who is in London to attend the MCC Cricket Committee meeting, also said that administrators must keep Test cricket relevant, “There are no issues with players like Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharmaand Virat Kohli who have dreamt of playing Test cricket. The problem may arise with the next generation of cricketers, who have grown up watching the IPL. Administrators must talk to them about the longest format. It will be sad if they chose to ignore Test cricket.”
On his experience in the IPL, Dravid felt that travel during the tournament was hard but added that there wasn’t too much physical exertion on the field, when compared to playing a Test match or a one-day international.
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