Previous Indian batsman Rahul Dravid feels that the IPL is a reality that the world must accept, and that a window for the Indian T20 league was necessary.
Speaking to Jonathan Agnew on BBC’s Test Match Special during the 3rd Test between England and South Africa at Lord’s, Dravid said, when the top players play, people will watch the Indian Premier League. 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 match alone was the reason for the break in the English player’s association with his board. He though agreed that the IPL would clash with the start of the English period, adding that Test cricket needed names like Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen.
Dravid, who is in London to go to the MCC Cricket group meeting, also said that administrator must keep Test cricket relevant, there are no issues with players like Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who have dreamt of playing Test cricket. The trouble may happen with the next age group of cricketers, who have grown up watching the IPL. Administrator must talk to them about the best format.
On his experience in the IPL, Rahul Dravid feel that travel during the match was hard but added that there wasn’t too much physical effort on the field, when compare to in concert a Test match or a ODI.
