Shadab
Jakati – the only Goan to have played in all the previous editions of IPL,
says, “I don’t think youngsters are getting into the sport only for the money
and fame. When I started playing cricket in 1995, IPL did not exist. I thought
of playing cricket professionally solely out of my passion and love for the
game. It is every young cricketer’s dream to play for the country.”
The slow
left arm orthodox spinner who played for Chennai Super Kings till 2013 and for
Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 hopes to play for the national side
someday. Jakati adds, “IPL is a great platform to show talent and get into the
probables for the Indian team. Many young cricketers, like Axar Patel, have
made the most of this opportunity and made it to the national side (Patel is
now a part of the Indian World Cup team). And those already in the national
side but battling with poor form, like Suresh Raina, have utilised IPL in the
past to bounce back.”
Speaking
about his IPL experience, Shadab says, “In a cricket crazy nation like ours
that has a mammoth population, it is a herculean task to get noticed. In IPL,
there are 20-25 players in each squad. As a young player, one gets the
opportunity to play alongside international players which is a learning
experience.”
Swapnil
Asnodkar who hogged the limelight in the debut edition of IPL by being a part
of the Rajasthan Royals, was the only Goan, apart from Jakati to have featured
in IPL. While the underdogs went on to clinch the title, Swapnil became the
centre of attention of most Goans who were then expecting to see him play in
the national team. That dream, however, is something that Swapnil still
believes will materialise some day.
Speaking
about his experience in IPL, Swapnil says, “No one had expected it. Because of
my performance in first class cricket, people knew me by my name. But my performance
in IPL made me a popular face. I’m happy that the state of Goa got its share of
fame through me.”
The hard
hitting right handed batsman however rules out the notion of most youngsters
being attracted towards cricket due to the name and fame it fetches. Swapnil
says, “Contrary to popular perception, getting selected for IPL is not a joke.
One has to consistently perform and be on par with some of the best players in
the world. The name and fame that one earns through IPL is short lived and the
real success lies in consistent performance. While IPL provides better
recognition for youngsters than First class cricket, it is not necessarily more
important than Ranji.”
