Former RCB pacer Navdeep Saini spoke out about selectors prioritising IPL performances over everything else. The fast bowler revealed that playing well in the IPL matters most for national selection nowadays. Saini’s comments exposed how Indian cricket management changed their selection policy favouring franchise cricket heavily.
What Did Navdeep Saini Say About Selection?
Saini said players must shine in IPL to catch selectors’ attention for India spots now. Domestic cricket used to be the main pathway, but IPL took over that role completely. The former RCB bowler believes this shift changed how cricketers plan their careers entirely.
“Whether one likes it or not, to play for India, you have to do well in IPL. It is a reality. A year before, I had a shoulder injury and my pace dropped – it cost me an IPL contract,” Saini said.
BCCI has been pushing the importance of domestic cricket for the past two years with strict rules. Centrally contracted players face penalties if they skip Ranji Trophy or India A matches. But Saini feels selectors still value IPL performances more than anything else shown recently.
Why Did BCCI Change Selection Policy?
Former BCCI secretary Jay Shah started this domestic cricket focus with full selector support behind him. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection chief Ajit Agarkar backed the plan to improve competitiveness. They want players maintaining high skill levels across all formats not just international cricket.
Big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to play the Ranji Trophy after poor performances. This showed that even senior players feel pressure to prove themselves in domestic matches urgently. The policy aims to keep everyone sharp and hungry regardless of the reputation earned before.
The Contradiction in the Selection Process
Players must play domestic cricket to stay in good books with selectors, as officially stated. But Saini’s revelation suggests IPL performances carry more weight during actual selection meetings held privately. This contradiction confuses young cricketers trying to figure out the right path forward clearly.
Teams want all-format players who dominate in IPL and domestic cricket competitions together. The strategy makes sense for developing well-rounded cricketers ready for any challenge thrown at them. But favouring IPL over Ranji Trophy contradicts BCCI’s stated policy, making things messy and unclear.
Saini’s honest comments highlighted the gap between what selectors say publicly versus what they do. Cricketers now chase IPL contracts knowing that’s their real ticket to wearing India colours.
