Importance of IPL Contracts
33 Years Old Indian Cricketer Mandeep Singh Who Left Punjab & Started Playing For Tripura In Ranji Trophy Said That In Indian Cricket System Now IPL Is Much Important Than Any Domestic Tournament Or Performance & If You Don’t Have IPL Contract Say Goodbye To Your Career.
He Said : ” After leaving Punjab, the immediate thought of retiring didn’t cross my mind. But when I saw my former teammates or those with whom I have played cricket retiring, it kind of hit me hard.
I was shocked to see fellow cricketers retiring early, and it felt weird. You are just 32, 33, and you are retiring.”
He Further Said : “I guess the IPL is a big factor. If you don’t have an IPL contract, your cricket career is virtually over. There are leagues for retired players where you can earn good money for 15-20 day tournaments. If you have played for India, you can easily make Rs 1 crore in a year. Maybe that is one of the reasons, or maybe the fire is not in them anymore.”
He Further Added : “I watched a video by Paddy Upton, where he was saying that in cricket, batters peak after turning 30. It took me back to the conversation I had with AB de Villiers. I vividly remember him saying, ‘Leave Virat Kohli alone. He’s an exceptional player. He peaked very early in his career. But, if you see, everyone else—29, 30, even after that—batters generally hit their peak.
He Continued : “I was the captain of Punjab, which lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. I let it go. Then my name was missing from the squad, which was going to Namibia for a pre-season camp. I was told that they are not considering me for the white-ball tournaments,
“I felt let down. Kaafi kharab laga (I felt really bad). For me, winning a trophy for Punjab was on par with playing for India. I was that invested in the team. Being Punjabi myself, Punjab is in my heart. I never thought that I would have to leave Punjab and play for another state,” he says. “I feel it was also my mistake. My last season was horrible. The PCA wanted to give chances to younger players, and my form was bad too, so I decided to move on.”
Note : Mandeep singh already represented India in three T20Is— all of them in 2016. However, he believes his best is yet to come, and he wants to be ready for those opportunities.